Alabama A&M linebacker Medrick Burnett Jr’s GoFundMe page was flooded with donations after the university issued a false statement announcing the athlete’s death.
Alabama A&M apologized for the initial statement clarifying that Medrick Burnett Jr is alive and still hospitalized. The university said they made the incorrect statement after receiving word of Burnett's death from an "immediate family member on Tuesday evening."
According to the GoFundMe initiated by the athlete’s sister, Medrick Burnett Jr., AKA "Meddy," a linebacker for Alabama AAMU #51, was playing in the Magic City game on October 26, 2024, when he was severely injured after a head-on-head collision during the game.
Burnett was reportedly hospitalized a day before his 20th birthday on October 27.
Nearly a month after the incident, Alabama A&M athletic director Paul A. Bryant, in a statement, said Medrick Burnett Jr. died after succumbing to a serious head injury. He said:
"Medrick was more than an exceptional athlete; he was a remarkable young man whose positive energy, leadership and compassion left an indelible mark on everyone who knew him."
Shortly after, the university retracted the statement, saying:
"Our staff acted accordingly to the wishes of the family member to inform the A&M community and beyond of this unfortunate occurrence," the statement reads. "Upon hearing from a representative from UAB Hospital this afternoon, we learned that he remains alive."
They apologized for disseminating false information, noting “We hold complete joy in knowing that Medrick remains in stable condition."
Medrick Burnett Jr.'s sister provided an update on his recovery after false death statement
Shortly after the University’s initial statement and subsequent retraction, Medrick Burnett Jr.'s GoFundMe page witnessed new donations from over 200 people. The fundraiser with a goal to raise $100,000, has raised over $38,000 from over 600 people, including 278 new donations. The fundraiser initiated on October 30, 2024 said:
“He needs and is going to need a lot of care, and all of his family live out of state from where he is located, and they also need to be able to have housing to be there to support and help him in this journey. We do not know what lies ahead yet, but we need all the prayers, support, resources, and donations to help him and his family keep giving him a fighting chance to survive.”
On Tuesday, November 26, Medrick Burnett Jr’s sister provided a bleak update on her brother’s health. She said:
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“Please pray he is having a tough time but we are holding on til the very end. God gives us strength so we can keep the faith.”
The fundraiser said donations will be used to cover his parents' stay in Alabama while he remains hospitalized. Burnett's parents live in California. The money will also go toward covering Burnett's medical expenses.
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