Ben Roethlisberger’s Twitter account has become infamous for blocking tons and tons of people, especially NFL reporters and analysts, from the social media platform. The mass blockage has been going on for several years already, and when Roethlisberger revealed his return to the Steelers in April via Twitter, several NFL writers freaked out about not being able to see the announcement.
One of the blocked journalists is ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt. So when Big Ben appeared on Friday’s SportsCenter, SVP made sure to smoothly bring up the topic. Roethlisberger explained that he does not run his social media accounts, so everyone who has been blocked, including Van Pelt, should not blame him. The mastermind is actually the woman who runs his fan site and social media accounts.
“I don’t do Twitter, that’s the funny thing. I do not do my Twitter. I do not do Insta — whatever all that stuff is now. It’s not me.
“There is an awesome, awesome woman, Erin (Cox) who runs my website, who does all that stuff for me. And she is one of the nicest, sweetest people around. And if you say something bad, you’re gonna get blocked, I guess. I have nothing to do with it. That’s the funniest part.”
Roethlisberger went above and beyond to distance himself from his Twitter account.
“I heard from my agent that I’m the only person in the world that blocks people. Most people want as many followers as possible I hear. I don’t really care ’cause it’s not me. … It’s officially a lady who does stuff for me, but it’s not me. So I’m not blocking. I have not blocked you.”
I hope all these journalists got the message.
I see there's some news about Ben Roethlisbeger. Upon heading to @_bigben7 I was hilariously greeted with this pic.twitter.com/SR6DhJ5Lt9
— Jim Murray (@bigjimmurray) April 7, 2017
Same here. Bless his heart. Do you think he can read minds??
— Michelle Beadle (@MichelleDBeadle) April 7, 2017
So is the entire @AroundTheNFL crew except @MarcSesslerNFL
— Chris Wesseling (@ChrisWesseling) April 7, 2017
I don't think I have ever even tweeted about Ben outside of games. I'm blocked, lol.
— Vincent Frank (@VincentFrankNFL) April 7, 2017
RT if you're blocked by @_BigBen7
— Kwani Lunis (@KwaniALunis) October 17, 2016
I am also blocked by @_BigBen7.
Blocking me is like blocking puppies. I am the most innocuous person of football twitter.
— Stephanie Stradley (@StephStradley) April 7, 2017
In fairness to Erin, Twitter can be a pretty nasty place and probably gets better when everyone is blocked.
It’s done in his name. I’d consider getting someone with a lil bit tougher skin to run it.
Fresh115s
This is what ESPN considers important. It says a lot about their target audience.
You’d think no one ever blocked anyone on twitter. I’m blocked by a few players. I don’t whine about it.