The Philadelphia Eagles addressed counterfeit posters circulating in the city that falsely claimed the NFL team endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president.
The Eagles announced on their official social media account on Monday that they are “aware counterfeit political ads are being circulated and are working with our advertising partner to have them removed.”
The Eagle’s online remarks followed the discovery of several posters in their home city that depicted Harris wearing an Eagles helmet, black jersey, and holding a football.
The falsified poster read, “Kamala. The official candidate of the Philadelphia Eagles,” according to CBS News.
A photo of a billboard found in Philly of the #Eagles appearing to endorse Kamala Harris is making the rounds on social media.
The team has not made any sort of official announcement, and their Voting Resource website listed on it hasn’t been updated since the primary elections. pic.twitter.com/yh4YtRALwC
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) September 2, 2024
These fake posters were spotted at bus shelters around the city, and displayed a URL, philadelphiaeagles.com/vote, which includes dated information about registering and voting in the Pennsylvania and New Jersey primaries.
A Fox 29 News reporter shared on social media that a spokesperson for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) stated, “The bus shelters are owned by the city. We haven’t heard anything about ads like this appearing on SEPTA property.”
A different journalist pointed out that the posters were located inside of an enclosed case at a SEPTA bus stop.
The @Eagles call these “counterfeit political ads” 1/2 pic.twitter.com/bBFh6D0lz3
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) September 2, 2024
“Seen today at 34th and Walnut in Philadelphia, on the University of Pennsylvania campus,” they wrote.
“I can’t imagine this was authorized by @Eagles,” the journo noted. “However the fact that it is in an enclosed case at a @SEPTA bus stop raises all kinds of flags and eyebrows.”
Intersection Media, which owns the ad space, told NBC10 that it is working to remove the posters.
“We are aware that several of our bus shelters in Philadelphia have been vandalized, and the paid advertising copy in each of those shelters was replaced with unauthorized content,” a spokesperson stated.
“While our bus shelters have locks that typically prevent the installation of unauthorized copy by non-Intersection staff, occasionally people find a way to unlock the ad box and insert unauthorized copy,” the statement continued.
The #Eagles are aware of this Kamala Harris political ad. The team says it's counterfeit and is working with their advertising partner to have it removed. pic.twitter.com/iW3bO25Glz
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) September 2, 2024
The spokesperson noted that the posters implied that the Eagles endorsed Harris.
“We note that the Eagles and Intersection had nothing to do with the creation or posting of this unauthorized copy and Intersection staff will be removing the ads as soon as possible,” the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, Eagles star cornerback Darius Slay is not thrilled about the NFL’s season-opener taking place in Brazil.
Slay on Brazil trip: “Week 1.. I can’t wait. But man, I do not wanna go to Brazil.. They already told us not to leave the hotel. They told us we can’t do too much, because the crime rate is crazy. I’m like ‘NFL, why would you wanna send us somewhere with a crime rate this… pic.twitter.com/7921ob1f8R
— Eagles Nation (@PHLEaglesNation) September 2, 2024
The Eagles are slated to face off with the Green Bay Packers in the South American country on Friday, which is the first time the league will host a game in Brazil.
Before his trip to South America, Slay posted a video online voicing his concern about Brazil’s high crime rate and mentioning that the league advised players not to leave their hotel rooms.
“I do not want to go to Brazil. You want to know why? I’m going to tell you why,” Slay remarked. “They already told us not to leave the hotel.”
“They told us we can’t do too much going on, because the crime rate is crazy,” he added. “I’m like ‘NFL, why would you want to send us somewhere with a crime rate this high?”
Shockingly, Slay was talking about another country and not San Francisco, where 49ers first-round draft pick Ricky Pearsall was gunned down by a 17-year-old boy allegedly trying to steal his Rolex watch on his way to a team signing event over the weekend.
The 49ers announced that the rookie was released from the hospital on Sunday after being shot in the chest.
JUST IN: San Francisco 49ers first-round pick Ricky Pearsall shot during an attempted robbery in San Francisco.
Pearsall, who is a rookie wide receiver, was shot in Union Square.
According to the San Francisco Police Department, a physical altercation took place after the thug… pic.twitter.com/7MI6kdqOem
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 1, 2024
“He and his family, along with the entire San Francisco 49ers organization, would like to thank the San Francisco Police Department, emergency medical services, doctors and staff at San Francisco General Hospital,” the organization said.
According to police, Pearsall was robbed at gunpoint, but fought back, which is when the teen shot the football player and himself during the struggle.
The suspect was arrested, and both he and Pearsall were taken to the hospital for treatment.
The football player’s mother gave an encouraging update on social media about his status.
https://twitter.com/LombardiHimself/status/1830253970108932119
“He was shot in the chest and it exited out his back,” Erin Pearsall posted. “Thanks be to GOD it missed his vital organs. He is in good spirits right now.”
Pearsall was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list on Monday and will miss at least four games of his first NFL season.