By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2025-01-20 16:01:43 | Updated at 2025-01-20 18:56:29
3 hours ago
Brett Peabody, a college football head coach, has been accused of sending a shocking social media message to a journalist.
Aaron Rupar, an independent journalist who previously worked for Vox News, claimed that the head coach of the Long Beach City Vikings sent him a 'threatening' direct message online.
Rupar, a liberal, anti-Trump reporter, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share a screenshot of a message from an account that is alleged to belong to the coach.
'You're done you sorry fascist scumbag, hope you get held accountable for the bulls*** that you've spread. Justice is in the horizon kiddo,' the direct message, allegedly sent on the social media platform, read.
Above the image, Rupar wrote: 'I get lots of threatening DMs but I usually don't get them from head coaches of college football programs.'
The reporter also tagged the account, which lists Peabody's accomplishments with the Vikings in the bio, and the college's handle. The account alleged to belong to the coach now appears to be private with his posts protected.
Journalist Aaron Rupar (L) accused coach Brett Peabody (R) of sending a threatening DM
Rupar shared a screenshot of a message from an account that appeared to belong to the coach
DailyMail.com has reached out to Peabody and Long Beach City College's athletic department for comment.
Rupar is a left-leaning reporter who has closely covered President Donald Trump with immense scrutiny.
He has frequently called out the mainstream media for its coverage of the incoming president, who is set to be sworn into office today, and accused outlets of 'sanewashing' Trump's comments.
He regularly snips clips of Trump from rallies, interviews and speeches and shares them on social media, taking aim at the 78-year-old and his allies.
Back in 2022, Rupar was one of at least least nine journalists to have their Twitter accounts suspended by Elon Musk.
The Tesla boss said the handles had tweeted links to an account which tracked the movements of his private jet, an action he likened to posting 'assassination coordinates.'
Journalists Ryan Mac of the New York Times , Drew Harwell of The Washington Post, Donie O'Sullivan of CNN , Matt Binder of Mashable, Micah Lee of The Intercept, Steven Herman of VOA, Tony Webster, and Keith Olbermann, along with Rupar all found their Twitter accounts suspended.
At the time, Rupar said he had 'no idea' why he was suspended, according to NBC journalist Ben Collins. Each of the other journalists banned had been covering Musk. Rupar's account has since been reinstated.
The account alleged to be Peabody has since been made private with its posts protected
Peabody, who is in his 12th year coaching the Vikings, is picture with his wife, Celeste
Peabody previously spent a 10-year stint at neighboring Los Angeles Harbor College
Meanwhile, Peabody is in his 12th year as head coach of the Vikings, who made their eighth bowl game appearance under his leadership in 2024.
Long Beach City is a public community college with the Vikings competing in the California South Coast Conference, which is part of the California Community College Athletic Association.
In 2017, Peabody led Long Beach City College to its third-consecutive National Central Conference championship with a 55-48 win over conference rival El Camino College. They also won their third-consecutive bowl game beating Bakersfield College to take home the Patriotic Bowl title.
During the 2019 season, the Vikings won the National Northern League championship title in a three-way tie with Ventura College and College of the Canyons, then went on to defeat Southwestern College in the 2019 Southern California Bowl.
Peabody previously spent a 10-year stint at neighboring Los Angeles Harbor College, where he served as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator before taking the helm as head coach for his final three years.
Peabody, who shares three children with his wife Celest, also founded The Next Level Football Academy.
