Free Speech Doesn’t Protect Your Reputation
Free speech is a foundational right, but it has never existed without consequence. In a digital world where every thought can be published instantly and preserved indefinitely, reputation has become one of the most fragile assets a person owns. What we say online does not live in isolation. It is copied, resurfaced, reframed, and judged by audiences we never intended to reach. Sometimes the cost of that exposure arrives long before we are ready to pay it.
A reader once contacted me about a highly touted young football recruit whose future shifted abruptly. He was talented, widely pursued, and positioned for a major opportunity at a prestigious university. That opportunity disappeared not because of his athletic performance, but because of content he had posted publicly on social media. The posts were vulgar and offensive, and once they were brought to the attention of decision-makers, they became impossible to ignore.
This was not a matter of censorship. He was free to say what he wanted. But institutions are equally free to decide who represents them. Universities, employers, and organizations are judged by the people they align with. Recruitment decisions reflect values, culture, and accountability. In that light, the school involved made a decision that protected its reputation and standards.
I have spoken at several universities about this exact issue, and the reaction is always mixed. Some students are genuinely shocked that jokes, sarcasm, or impulsive posts could affect their careers years later. Others feel it is unfair to be judged for something said in a moment of immaturity. That tension is understandable. But social platforms are not private conversations. They are permanent public records with search functionality.
What often gets lost in these moments is intent versus impact. Many people post reckless content not out of hatred, but out of immaturity, insecurity, or a desire to entertain peers. They are performing for an audience without understanding how wide that audience really is. Context collapses online. What feels like a private joke among friends can become a defining moment when viewed by strangers with authority over your future.
I feel this personally. When I post something risqué or sarcastic, I am not just risking a follower. I am risking sponsors, business relationships, and the trust of clients. That reality shapes what I share. It has to. Absolute transparency online is a myth. What we practice instead is selective expression, informed by consequences. Even then, mistakes happen. People unfollow. Readers walk away. Misunderstandings occur. That discomfort is part of existing in public spaces.
The difference for me is timing. My career is established. I am not just starting out. I am not being evaluated for scholarships, internships, or entry-level roles. I cannot imagine where my life would have ended up if social media had documented my teenage years. Many of us would not survive our own digital archives. That realization alone should slow how quickly we rush to permanent judgment.
What matters most is not the mistake itself, but what follows it. In this case, the young man acknowledged his error, took responsibility, and expressed a commitment to change.
I made a huge mistake. I definitely learned a valuable lesson, and I promise nothing like that will ever happen again. Everyone that knows me knows that’s not my true character or who I really am. I’m not going to sit here and try and make excuses for what I did. I’m just going to be a man and say I was wrong and I learned from it.
Yuri Wright
That response mattered. And it mattered even more that he was given another opportunity to prove that his worst moment did not define his entire character.
Second chances are not about erasing mistakes. They are about recognizing growth. None of us would want our most embarrassing moments broadcast, indexed, and held against us forever. Judging people solely by their failures ignores the capacity for learning, maturity, and accountability. Actions taken after a mistake tell a far more accurate story than the mistake itself.
Free speech carries consequences. That reality is not going away. But neither should our willingness to allow redemption. Someday, you may need a second chance, too. Choose your words carefully, understand that people are watching, and remember that grace is just as important as accountability in a world that never forgets.
