Oops: Riley Cooper Chosen For Black History Month On Eagles Calendar After Using Racial Slur
Riley Cooper probably isn’t thrilled that his picture was selected for Black History Month on the official Philadelphia Eagles team calendar — it’s reminding everyone of the time he used a racial slur during a Kenny Chesney concert.
According to TMZ, Riley Cooper’s photo accompanies the month of February on the team’s 2015 calendar. The wide receiver’s placement in the calendar is raising eyebrows because he’s proved that he’s way too comfortable flinging out the n-word, and his highly-publicized use of a racial slur makes him a pretty offensive choice for Black History Month.
During a June, 2013, Kenny Chesney concert, a few members of the Philadelphia Eagles were invited onstage for the country star’s performance of “The Boys of Fall.” Before the performance, an agitated Riley Cooper was videotaped pointing toward the crowd and yelling, “I will jump that fence and fight every n****r here, bro!” The Crossing Board blog shared a video of the threat, and teammate Jason Kelce can be seen trying to calm Cooper down before he says those words that he would live to regret. According to Deadspin, Riley was drunk and upset that he didn’t have backstage passes like some of his teammates.
As the Inquisitr previously reported, the Eagles fined Riley Cooper for using the racial slur. He apologized for the incident and was forced to undergo sensitivity training. However, many are still appalled by the decision to use a photo of the wide receiver for Black History Month.
Shameful nobody affiliated with the Eagles caught Riley Cooper being featured on Black History Month of the team calendar.
— Skip Bayless (@RealSkipBayless) February 13, 2015
@NFLRT cmon #Eagles how can you put Riley Cooper as the cover athlete in February smh pic.twitter.com/GwAB4oJTDD
— Kyle Newton (@NewtSports) February 13, 2015
In honor of Eagles putting Riley Cooper in their Black History Month Calendar, I hereby nominate Ted Nugent as the next director of NPR
— Jim Souhan (@SouhanStrib) February 12, 2015
So the official 2015 Philadelphia Eagles calendar features Riley Cooper in the month of February…SMH, Unacceptable
— MicahKristen (@MicahKSports) February 13, 2015
Riley Cooper in the @Eagles calander for the month of February? Really?! Are they really that stupid? #somebodyapprovedthis
— Shawn Brady (@BradysThankYous) February 13, 2015
Not only am I pissed that Riley Cooper is on feb in the eagles calendar, Im pretty embarrassed to like a league where that kinda stuff is ok
— Mike (@L3mon_Meringue) February 13, 2015
Only the Eagles could f up a calendar by using Riley Cooper for Black History Month. Just Awesome. #BigBlue4Life
— Scott Gilbert (@ScottieIce724) February 13, 2015
According to TMZ, a rep for the Eagles said that the placement of Cooper’s photo was “an honest mistake.” After looking further into the issue, the Eagles released a second statement saying that the team has no say in how the photos appear in the calendar.
“We do not oversee the production of the annual team calendar. We do not provide any input about the players who are featured or where those pictures appear in the calendar. The NFL licenses the production of that calendar to a third party and we do not have an opportunity to review the material.”
So far, Riley Cooper has chosen not to comment on the calendar.
[Image credit: Norm Hall/Getty]
