14 DAY TRIAL // A few days ago, a photo of retired Major League Baseball right fielder Sammy Sosa surfaced online, showing him with a much lighter skin tone than what he used to have a while back. As imagined, speculation immediately began on whether Sosa was suffering from Vitiligo or whether he was doing something to make himself whiter, speculation that was put to rest by one of his friends a short while back, as CBS News informs.
“No, Sammy Sosa isn’t still wearing makeup from his Halloween costume. A picture of the former Chicago Cubs slugger has been circulating showing him with a lighter skin tone than what fans might remember when he played at Wrigley Field. The shot was taken when Sosa, who is Dominican, attended the Latin Grammys, reported CBS News station WBBM-TV in Chicago. The Chicago Tribune reported that the lighter skin tone is a side effect from a skin rejuvenation process.” CBS writes.
One of Sosa’s close friends is adamant he is not trying to go all Michael Jackson on us, saying that the lighter skin tone is caused by a treatment and not a disease. “He’s not trying to be Michael Jackson. He is in the middle of doing a cleansing process to his skin. The picture is deceiving. He said, ‘If you saw me in person, you would be surprised. When you see me in person, it is not going to seem like the picture’.” former Cubs employee Rebecca Polihronis says.
However, the first time that Polihronis saw the photo, she too had some trouble seeing the man in it as Sosa, the same media outlet informs. After she finally convinced herself she was not looking at a body double, Polihronis revealed that Sosa was finally seeking treatment for his skin after it was severely damaged during the many years spent playing baseball in the sun.
A spokesperson for Sammy Sosa was not immediately available for comment on the controversy that continues to burn a hole through the Internet. Until a statement is released, the only thing even remotely close to official we have are the words of Sosa’s friend above.