Aranda has faced criticism after quoting a scene from “The Wolf of Wall Street” in which characters discuss exploiting little people for entertainment.
WACO, Texas — Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda opened his 2025 fall camp press conference on Monday with a public apology for comments he made last week at the Texas High School Coaches Association convention, where he used a derogatory term while referencing a scene from the film “The Wolf of Wall Street.”
“I wanted to say, last time we spoke, I had a misstep and hurt a bunch of people, so I apologize for that,” Aranda said. “That was not what I intended to come across, so I’m sorry for that.”
Aranda has faced mounting criticism after quoting a scene from the 2013 film in which characters discuss exploiting little people for entertainment. In his remarks at the THSCA event, Aranda said:
“There’s a scene in The Wolf of Wall Street, where they talk about throwing midgets. It’s like, ‘Hey, this midget, can he roll there?’ And you go, ‘No, he doesn’t roll. You throw him. They’re made for throwing.’ … And then after a while, they go, ‘Well, you know what? I think, if you start talking, they may think we’re making fun of them. The midgets may think we’re making fun of them. They may get mad at us.’”
The term “midget” is widely considered a slur by those with dwarfism and disability communities.
Mascots Matter, a national advocacy group dedicated to eliminating derogatory language and imagery related to dwarfism, condemned Aranda’s comments in a statement issued on July 28.
“Mascots Matter is appalled by recent remarks made by Baylor University’s Head Football Coach, Dave Aranda,” the statement read. “By using this term, Coach Aranda contributed to the normalization of ableism, which continues to affect millions of people with disabilities. Such comments coming from a leader in the sports community further stigmatize people with disabilities.”
The organization urged Aranda and Baylor University to use the moment as an opportunity for public education on disability rights and the harmful impact of outdated and offensive language.
As of Wednesday, Baylor University had not issued a separate statement addressing the matter.
Aranda, who has led the Bears since 2020, is expected to continue in his role as the team opens its 2025 season. His comments and apology come amid broader conversations about inclusion and accountability in college athletics.
