This past Saturday, the former Atlanta Braves third baseman tweeted out what he intended to be a joke about illegal immigrants:

Y'all think if they took all them gators they trap in Fla and La and put them in the Rio Grande, it wud stop the illegals from crossing? Jk — Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) June 8, 2013

And quickly found himself in hot water:

Not only is @RealCJ10 one of the "ignorant, misinformed people" he was complaining about on Twitter, he's obviously RACIST too. @braves — La (@LaPinetina) June 9, 2013

Why am I surprised the Chipper Jones is a racist asshole? Geez — ESTES (@ROFLwithBJ) June 9, 2013

https://twitter.com/DaveRogersOTC/status/344165397538414592

@RealCJ10 Too bad you got outed as a racist prick eh? — Keaton Daley (@KeatonDaley) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 eat a dick along with everyone that thought your dumb ass joke was funny. — israel (@MrIzReal) June 10, 2013

Chipper Jones is a fucking blockhead — Stan Croussett (@MindofStan) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 ONCE AGAIN, ANOTHER WHITE NEO NAZI BRAVES PLAYER HATING ON ANYONE THAT ISN'T WHITE TRASH, REDNECK OR HAS FUCK THEIR COUSIN. — Josh Campanelli (@bigbarcelona23) June 10, 2013

https://twitter.com/XikanoRaider/status/344123155465506817

@RealCJ10 FUCK U & UR BULLSHIT APOLOGY U PIECE OF SHIT! WHEN WE BECOME A MAJORITY WILL FEED YOU ALONG TO W/ UR FAM TO THE GATORS, U HOE! — Josh Campanelli (@bigbarcelona23) June 10, 2013

Yesterday, Jones took to Twitter to apologize:

I realize that my tweet yest was offensive and distasteful. An attempt at humor was a terrible mistake. Please accept my heartfelt apology! — Chipper Jones (@RealCJ10) June 9, 2013

But was that the right move? Many people feel that his only crime was being politically incorrect in a world increasingly bent on political correctness and that he shouldn’t cave to pressure:

@RealCJ10 political correctness is anti-american, puts a muzzle on freedom of speech. No apology needed. — PowerAesthetics byCW (@codydwilburn) June 9, 2013

https://twitter.com/VanGoGoGirly/status/343872037204410368

https://twitter.com/policy140/status/344171382181085184

@RealCJ10 there was nothing wrong with your tweet. U pussed out. Disappointed! — Brent Wilson (@LandRoverBrent) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 Come on-chip… No apology needed… People need to grow up and grow a pair and realized that humor is naturally funny… — Daniel Jones (@Danieljones_19) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 I thought it was a good idea….offensive? Yes, crossing illegally is offensive to US law! — imnotsmart (@Esimm) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 No worries, Chip. Anybody who didn't understand it was a joke is just looking to drag you down. — kIRbY (@Nibraybirk) June 10, 2013

Chipper Jones said nothing offensive…you are an "illegal" if you swim across the river — Justin Simpson (@BattleRedRaider) June 10, 2013

I thought @RealCJ10 tweet bout the gators was funny and was a JOKE!!!! #GrowUp America!! He shouldn't have to apologize for a lil joke! #SMH — Chris Whitley (@chriswhit85) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 u said it as a joke. Why cave to the PC Police. Tell them to f off. The people who know u, knows your heart. Besides, it was funny — Ken G. Silvers (@Yeshuaspoke) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 @jt_dudenhoffer Why do people connect illegal immigration with racism? Immigration is about proper paperwork or lack of. — Rose Marie Rouse (@bluegrassrose) June 10, 2013

@bluegrassrose @RealCJ10 Immigration is about the sovereignty of the United States. The knee-jerk' cry of racism is ridiculous… — J.T. (@jt_dudenhoffer) June 10, 2013

https://twitter.com/Scott_Ingersoll/status/344179044813766656

@RealCJ10 I wish you wouldn't have apologized. That was obviously a joke. You even put jk. People are too uptight. — Braque Hildreth (@braque6) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 just read all the replies to your tweet and they're hilarious; you just can't joke on twitter anymore without being racist — Chipper Jones fan (@Chipper_Fan_1) June 10, 2013

@RealCJ10 No need to apologize Be yourself. It seem there are people who are always looking for reasons to be offended — VManstuff (@VManstuff) June 10, 2013

https://twitter.com/joesimonetti/status/344087896900382720

What do you think, Twitchy readers?