A Washington, D.C.-area jogger known on Instagram as “Your Buddy Gus” has apologized to the Howard University community after one of his recent videos sparked a heated debate online.
In a statement posted after the backlash, Gus said he now understands why many people were upset by his decision to run through Howard’s campus while filming content.Gus called his actions “insensitive” and acknowledged that he was unaware of the deeper history that shaped some of the criticism. He added that his goal is usually to highlight the beauty of Washington, D.C., but said he never wants that to come at the expense of “people’s safety, well-being, and overall peace of mind.” He also promised that it would not happen again.
Howard University responses were divided
The reaction from the Howard University community and observers online was far from one-sided.
Some commenters took strong issue with the video. They said that Howard’s campus — and especially The Yard — should be treated as sacred space. A few framed the issue around protection of campus culture, student safety, and long-standing concerns about outsiders treating a historic Black institution like a public backdrop for content…