Auburn QB’s Instagram post draws reaction

By Chris Marler

Auburn backup quarterback Payton Thorne fell victim to social media’s newest, and most awkward, gameshow – “When scheduled NIL posts go wrong” last night. Thorne posted a weekly, and to be very clear CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED post, as a part of his deal with Auburn’s NIL group, On To Victory.

However, the phrasing and optics did him no favors. In the post Thorne’s copy read, “SUPPORT ME” in all caps.

Being contractually obligated to post this ☠️

Posting it at 11:20pm ☠️☠️

Turning the comments off ☠️☠️☠️ pic.twitter.com/kr6bfFawwL

— Auburn Memes (@AuburnMemes) September 17, 2024

Oh no, Auburn…Payton Thorne, what is you doing? Surely someone had to have seen this and realized how badly this would look just a week after being benched for Hank Brown. Surely.

Shame on y’all for leaving that young man open to that kind of online criticism and trolling. And, kudos to Thorne for standing in the paint and posting this despite how uncomfortable it may have been.