Antonio Brown’s attempted murder charge shows how people have already given up on him

When Antonio Brown’s name started trending again, it wasn’t for a comeback or a wild new social media stunt. This time, it was darker law enforcement in Miami-Dade County is actively seeking his arrest for attempted murder.

But before the full details were even confirmed, the internet had already reached a verdict. Brown’s past has made people quicker than ever to assume the worst. And in this trial by Twitter, redemption rarely gets a chance.

Antonio Brown’s past is now painting how people see his present

The second the news of Antonio Brown attempted murder in connection to a May 16 shooting hit the feed, the comment section exploded. Not with confusion or shock, but with a strange sort of exhausted certainty.

As if people had been expecting something like this all along.

“AB just can’t stop doing dumb sh*t,” one user wrote. Another joked, “He can’t finish anything,” referencing the alleged failed shooting. This isn’t just commentary, it’s judgment, shaped by years of Antonio Brown controversies. From stripping off his jersey mid-game and quitting on the Bucs, to launching a rap career filled with headline-grabbing antics, Brown's every move in recent years has chipped away at any benefit of the doubt he might’ve once had.

There was a time when Antonio Brown was a first-ballot Hall of Famer in the making. But over the past few years, he's built a rap sheet that rivals his highlight reel. Sexual assault accusations, domestic disputes, unpaid debts, trolling Tom Brady, bizarre live streams, there’s been no shortage of chaos. So now, when a report surfaces alleging that Brown fired a gun and grazed a man’s neck during a celebrity boxing event, most fans don’t wait to see the evidence.

They just nod, shrug, and move on. It’s not that they’ve stopped caring, it’s that they’ve stopped being surprised.

“Innocent until proven guilty” is trending but mostly as a technicality

To be fair, a few voices are still calling for due process. One fan tweeted, “Let’s get the facts first. Innocent until proven guilty 💯.” But those voices feel small against the overwhelming flood of judgment. Even people who don’t believe Brown is guilty still admit they assume he’s “not going to end well.”As of now, Antonio Brown hasn’t been arrested. A warrant was issued on June 11, and the details are still under investigation. But public opinion isn’t waiting for courtroom updates. In their eyes, Brown’s past has already decided the present.Also read - NFL reportedly won’t suspend Rashee Rice for 2025 season despite hit-and-run case