10 June 2023 , 16:57
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The 9/11 Families United have slammed American Golf star Bryson DeChambeau after his controversial comments made this week.
During an interview with CNN, the rebellious golfer made the claim that families affected by the 2001 terrorist attack should now look towards forgiving.
Speaking on Tuesday, he was asked what he would say to the families impacted by 9/11 due to his affiliation with LIV Golf - which is backed by the Saudi monarchy, having been slammed for its human rights records spanning across decades, as well as it's alleged involvement in 9/11.
He told CNN : "Well, I think we’ll never be able to repay the families back for what exactly happened just over 20 years ago, and what happened is definitely horrible. We’re in a place now where it’s time to start trying to work together to make things better together as a whole.
"I have deep sympathy. I don’t know exactly what they’re feeling. I can’t ever know what they feel, but I have a huge amount of respect for their position and what they believe.
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"Nor do I ever want anything like that to ever occur again. I think as we move forward from that, we’ve got to look towards a pathway to peace, especially – and forgiveness, especially if we’re trying to mend the world and make it a better place.
"I think this what they’re trying to accomplish – LIV is trying to accomplish, the PIF is trying to accomplish, we’re all trying to accomplish is a better world for everybody and a way to provide great entertainment for everybody around the world."
After becoming aware of the quotes, 9/11 Families United Chairperson Terry Strada has slammed DeChambeau. Strada's husband sadly died in the attacks, and she gave a passionate statement in response to the Golf star.
DeChambeau has been roundly criticised for his quotes with 9/11 Families United Chairperson Terry Strada has slamming him"Bryson is either completely unaware of the Saudi’s involvement in the 9/11 attacks, purposefully ignorant, or falling in line with what his wealthy paymasters from the Kingdom have commanded him to do - spew their talking points," the statement read. "The more important question which he overlooks is how are we supposed to ‘forgive’ an autocratic government which for more than 20 years has fought transparency and accountability every step of the way and still refuses to take any responsibility?
"In Bryson’s view, the families and survivors of 9/11 should simply just look away and forget? All the families have suffered immeasurable pain and loss when our loved ones were brutally murdered on 9/11 including my youngest son who was a few days old when his father, and my husband, was murdered in the World Trade Center.
"Unlike Bryson, his other LIV teammates and now the PGA Tour, we will never forget and we will continue to fight for accountability and transparency when it comes to Saudi government involvement in 9/11."
DeChambeau had been speaking after the the merger between the PGA Tour and LIV - which has been received negatively by numerous players who did not join LIV, with the players also not being made aware of any such merge. DeChambeau had been roundly criticised for being one of the first A-list names from the PGA to join LIV in 2022, signing a $125 million (£99.48m) deal.