New Delhi, Nov. 6 -- Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Anthony Santander removed Islamophobic Instagram stories he shared the day after Democrat Abdul El-Sayed won Michigan's US Senate race, becoming the first Muslim elected to the chamber. The posts quickly spread online through screenshots, prompting criticism from Blue Jays fans and a statement from the team distancing itself from the content.

Anthony Santander, 32, shared the stories on Wednesday. One featured the claim "America voted for Sharia Last Night!" alongside an image of El-Sayed. The other declared "Islam is not peaceful." Both were taken down Thursday morning after circulating widely.

The material included a reshare from an account asserting that Muslims elected that night wer...