*Just days after sending out controversial comments via Twitter about the death of Osama bin Laden and the events of 9/11, NFL running back Rashard Mendenhall was dropped from his endorsement contract with Champion. USA Today first reported the news.
Champion released the following statement Friday:
“Champion is a strong supporter of the government’s efforts to fight terrorism and is very appreciative of the dedication and commitment of the U.S. Armed Forces. Earlier this week, Rashard Mendenhall, who endorses Champion products, expressed personal comments and opinions regarding Osama bin Laden and the September 11 terrorist attacks that were inconsistent with the values of the Champion brand and with which we strongly disagreed. In light of these comments, Champion was obliged to conduct a business assessment to determine whether Mr. Mendenhall could continue to effectively communicate on behalf of and represent Champion with consumers.
“While we respect Mr. Mendenhall’s right to express sincere thoughts regarding potentially controversial topics, we no longer believe that Mr. Mendenhall can appropriately represent Champion and we have notified Mr. Mendenhall that we are ending our business relationship. Champion has appreciated its association with Mr. Mendenhall during his early professional football career and found him to be a dedicated and conscientious young athlete. We sincerely wish him all the best.”
On Monday, in reference to public reaction to the death of bin Laden, Mendenhall tweeted, “What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side…”
He also tweeted, in reference to the 9/11 terror attacks: “We’ll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style.”
Mendenhall wrote a clarification and apology Wednesday.
The Pittsburgh Steelers player has endorsed Champion products since becoming a first-round draft pick of the team in 2008.He agreed to a four-year extension with Champion on Sunday, but the company pulled the plug just a few days later.
Mendenhall led Pittsburgh in rushing the past two seasons. Last year he rushed for a career-high 1,273 yards and 13 touchdowns for the reigning AFC champions.
The backlash is starting already!! He should of kept his feelings to himself and not go on twitter. Some people have to learn the hard way bout expressing their evry thought publicly for all the world to see and hear.
The Brother is not a slave he’s a free man and he can say what he wants that’s his right. If he can’t say what’s on his mind then he’s a dam slave! So no speak your mind Black Man don’t bow down to the enemy speak the truth and free the people! They are treating him like Kunta Knita what’s your name boy they are trying to break him in front of us then that will make us be quite. Pull our Brother Down from the tree!If he goes back on what he said then he wasn’t strong enough to stand up for truth! Black Power
isn’t it funny how when you’re getting fined/disciplined/fired or dropped from a “lucrative” endorsement, all of a sudden you’re Mr. Where does this knucklehead think all those messages are going? The dead letter file at the post office???…he was all of 14 when this happened (I’m not knocking that at that age you could have empathy), and now he wants to repeat what he remembered from the block….y’all keep this stuff up and you’re future will be over before High School…..and so it begins.
Open mouth and insert foot.I know that he thought that he was living in America but did he forget that he may have first amendment rights on some things but I thought that everyone knew that you can’t make any comments about 9/11 that do not show your empanty about the event.I do realize that this was a major event in America history and he should realize too that you just can’t vent things like that everywhere.
He doesn’t understand how people can hate bin Laden? Wow.
bin Laden has been doing shit for four presidencies. This is about way more than 9/11.
We’ve only heard one side of how 911 happened? Let me guess, he thinks we should give bin Laden a hug?
He doesn’t sound like a conspiracy theorist as much as an ignorant person who’s touched in the head.
I’m glad he was dropped. I wouldn’t want him representing my company either.
He sincerely looks like a dumbass.
God damn Synthia, that was a mouth full, but it’s the truth.
White people don’t want to hear any other side, especially since we talking about a bloody Arab.
If it was OK bombing, where a redneck was indicted, then you can present other theories and get a pass.
But whitey already allow themselves to be convinced that it was done by one of them other people, so you don’t want to invoke their wrath.
Every time I hear an intelligent person refer to Bin Laden as definitely the architect behind 911, I cringe, because I know they know better. I’m talking about folks like Rachael Maddow and Obama. But you can’t blame them. They know that they would be finished to say otherwise.
But this is going to have a chilling effect on free speech. Anyone in a position where they have to answer to the corporate elite is effectively muzzled. That includes practically all journalists, athletes and entertainers. The very people who we rely on to get the message out.
It’s just another example of the cost of 911. Loss of freedom to question your government. Phil Donahue was one of the first casualties at MSNBC for questioning the war. America is now left as a country with no values. When you abandon due process with indefinite detention, and even torture people, there is not much left to lose.
How different is America from the worlds known repressive regimes? Stalin’s Soviet Union, Gaddafi Libya, Mubarak Egypt, N Korea, China…
Everyone is entitled to express their opinion. Just realize that everyone may not agree with it.