
Lawsuit Reveals Buffalo Bills Owner Accused of Making Racist Statement About Black NFL Players
A lawsuit was filed by The Athletic reporter, Jim Trotter alleging racial discrimination and retaliation after his contract wasn’t renewed by the NFL (National Football League). In the lawsuit, he alleges his relationship with the football league ended after he questioned NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell about the lack of Black executives at the NFL Network during a nationally televised broadcast. He also alleges that Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula disparaged Black players with a racist comment several years ago.
According to The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle, in the federal lawsuit that was filed in New York on Sept. 12, Trotter is seeking damages and an “award of equitable relief necessary to force the NFL to remedy and change its discriminatory and retaliatory practices.” He also cites a comment allegedly made by Pegula in September 2020 during a Zoom conversation with another NFL Media reporter that was revealed to other NFL Media employees at the time.
The Bills owner purportedly made an inflammatory statement during a discussion about the Black Lives Matter movement and social activism by NFL players. In the complaint, he allegedly stated, “If the Black players don’t like it here, they should go back to Africa and see how bad it is.”
After Trotter heard the statement, he objected to it but he stated that he was told not to mention Pegula’s alleged comments and that the comment was “swept under the rug” by the NFL.
Pegula denied he uttered the sentence in a statement released by the Bills.
“The statement attributed to me in Mr. Trotter’s complaint is absolutely false. I am horrified that anyone would connect me to an allegation of this kind. Racism has no place in our society, and I a personally disgusted that my name is associated with this complaint.”
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) September 12, 2023
The NFL also released a statement regarding the matter.
“Mr. Trotter’s departure from NFL Media was one of many difficult decisions — similar to decisions recently made by many other media organizations — to address a challenging economy and a changing media environment. Jim was one of many employees who were unfortunately affected by these business decisions. We appreciate Jim’s five years of service at NFL Media and wish him much success in his new role. The NFL has made significant strides in improving diversity and inclusion and, while we acknowledge there is always more work to be done, we are committed to continuing that progress.”
Trotter is being represented by the Wigdor law firm, the same group that also filed a racial discrimination lawsuit for former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL last year.
Lawsuit Reveals Buffalo Bills Owner Accused of Making Racist Statement About Black NFL Players
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