Riley Cooper Threatening Tweets Blocked After Racist Remarks
Riley Cooper has received and blocked threatening tweets after a video of him making racist remarks surfaced on the Internet.
A player for the Philadelphia Eagles, a team spokesperson said Sunday that Cooper had received threatening remarks on his Twitter account. It was not clear who was responsible for making the comments.
"Riley Cooper made us aware of the tweets when the video became public," the team said in a statement. "He told us that he did not know about the video. He informed us he blocked the tweets because he did not know the person nor understand the context of what that person was threatening.
"We promptly alerted NFL security. This information potentially speaks to a legal issue that is a matter between Riley and the authorities. Our focus has been on Riley's words and actions."
Cooper was at a Kenny Chesney concert in June when he made a racial slur, threatening to start a fight with other concertgoers. Video of his remarks surfaced on the Internet last Wednesday causing outrage. The player immediately apologized on Twitter.
"I am so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I want to apologize. I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, Jeffrey Lurie, and Howie Roseman and to my teammates. I owe an apology to the fans and to this community. I am so ashamed, but t here are no excuses," he wrote on Twitter last week.
"What I did was wrong and I will accept the consequences," he added.
Cooper was fined for the incident and left the team Friday to seek counseling.
"We are shocked and appalled by Riley Cooper's words," Jeff McLane said in a statement. "This sort of behavior or attitude from anyone has no role ... ... in a civil society. He has accepted responsibility for his words and his actions. He has been fined for this incident."