UNC Field Hockey Commit Apologizes for Use of Racial Slur

A UNC field hockey commit who was caught using a racial slur in a viral video has issued an apology through her father’s Facebook account.

Charlotte de Vries was one of two girls shown using the N-word in a video posted to Twitter earlier this month. The video was posted by an individual who said the girls in the video, which had been livestreamed on Instagram, went to her high school in Berwyn, Pennsylvania.

The website maxfieldhockey.com lists de Vries as a member of the 2019 recruiting class from Conestoga High School and a UNC commit.

de Vries wrote in the apology published through her father that she was “deeply ashamed for using racist language.”

“There is no excuse for using such language in public or private,” she continued. “I realize that such words are offensive, uncalled for and, regardless of the situation, I should have known better.”

A UNC spokesperson issued a statement when the video first gained notoriety saying, “This video does not include a UNC student. We condemn the use of racial slurs in any setting.”

de Vries was also a member of the USA junior national field hockey team. That organization issued a statement on her status.

“USA Field Hockey is aware of the discriminatory remark made by an athlete from one of our junior national teams and has suspended this individual as we review the situation further. USA Field Hockey does not tolerate any behavior that is not inclusive and respectful to all.”

The university is prohibited from commenting specifically on any recruit that has not signed a letter of intent to the university.

The full post from de Vries father is below:

On behalf of our daughter Charlotte, we would like to communicate her honest and remorseful apology.

I am deeply ashamed for using racist language, and there is no excuse for using such language in public or private. I realize that such words are offensive, uncalled for and, regardless of the situation, I should have known better. I take full responsibility and I apologize from the bottom of my heart to anyone and everyone who I have offended.

I have begun to have conversations about how to move forward, and how to develop better sensitivity and understanding of the experiences and feelings of others. I will do whatever is necessary, including having as many conversations as necessary, to show that I am sincere in my desire to truly learn and grow from this experience.

This has been a painful lesson for me. I had no right hurting people. I truly hope that my thoughtlessness is a lesson for others, as it has been for me, that words do matter and that they can be hurtful.

Charlotte de Vries