Why Did RJ Luis Jr. NCAA Basketball Star Deleted His Instagram After March Madness?

College athlete RJ Luis Jr., a standout player for the St. John’s Red Storm, deleted his Instagram account following online harassment after his team’s unexpected loss in the NCAA March Madness tournament. The incident has sparked conversations about the growing issue of online abuse directed at student-athletes, particularly after losses tied to sports betting.

Harassment After St. John’s March Madness Loss

On March 22, 2025, St. John’s was eliminated from the NCAA tournament after a 75-66 upset loss to the University of Arkansas in the second round. Despite a successful season and being named Big East Player of the Year and a Second Team All-American, Luis Jr. had an off night during the game. He shot only 3 of 17 from the field and was benched during the final minutes, which angered some fans who had placed bets on St. John’s to go further in the tournament.

Fans’ Anger and Negative Comments

Following the loss, Luis Jr.’s Instagram account was reportedly flooded with negative comments and abuse from angry fans. The online harassment became so overwhelming that the 22-year-old athlete decided to delete his account. According to reports from USA Today, The New York Post, and NJ.com, Luis Jr. was subjected to hateful messages from individuals frustrated over their lost bets, demonstrating the toxic side of sports fandom, particularly when money is involved.

Support from Fellow Fans and Critics

In response to the harassment, many people spoke out in support of Luis Jr. WFAN radio host Brandon Tierney criticized the situation, saying it was “sad” that a young man like Luis Jr. was being targeted for the performance of his team. Tierney described Luis Jr. as “an absolute gem of a human” and lamented the state of modern fandom, where online attacks have become so common.

St. John’s fan account Rumble In The Garden also expressed their outrage, posting on X (formerly Twitter) about the harassment Luis Jr. faced. They wrote that it was “disgusting” and blamed “degenerate gamblers” for fueling the online abuse.

NCAA’s Response to Sports Betting Abuse

This incident occurred just a week after the NCAA launched a “sports betting anti-harassment video” highlighting the alarming prevalence of online abuse directed at student-athletes, particularly those involved in high-stakes tournaments like March Madness. The NCAA report found that 1 in 3 student-athletes had received abusive messages from individuals with a betting interest, with the majority of harassment occurring during the March Madness season.

NCAA President Charlie Baker condemned the abuse, stating, “These actions severely threaten student-athlete mental health and well-being.” He emphasized the need for both fans and states to do better to prevent such toxic behavior, calling for the banning of player props that target individual athletes and fuel abuse.

A Call for Change

RJ Luis Jr.’s decision to delete his Instagram account serves as a sobering reminder of the harmful impact sports betting can have on the mental health of student-athletes. As the NCAA works to address the issue, it is crucial for fans to remember that athletes are human beings, not mere commodities to wager on, and they deserve respect both on and off the court.