Carolina Panthers remove statue of former owner Jerry Richardson fearing ‘attempts to take it down’

The NFL’s Carolina Panthers removed a statue of the team’s former owner Jerry Richardson on Wednesday, fearing “attempts to take it down” after he has faced allegations of sexual harassment and using a racial slur.

The team confirmed on Twitter that the statue of Richardson in front of the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., was taken down, citing “public safety” reasons. 

“We were aware of the most recent conversation surrounding the Jerry Richardson statue and are concerned there may be attempts to take it down,” the team tweeted. “We are moving the statue in the interest of public safety.”

We were aware of the most recent conversation surrounding the Jerry Richardson statue and are concerned there may be attempts to take it down. We are moving the statue in the interest of public safety.

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) June 10, 2020

Richardson, who founded the Carolina Panthers in the 1990s, was pushed to sell the team two years ago after a 2017 Sports Illustrated report said he made sexually suggestive comments to women and used a racial slur at an African American team scout. Current owner David Tepper bought the team from Richardson in May 2018.

An NFL investigation into the alleged workplace misconduct fined Richardson $2.75 million fine in June 2018.

Photos of the removal showed a crane lifting Richardson’s statue and placing it on a truck. The statue is being kept at an undisclosed location, according to local station WSOC TV.

– @stahlingphotog pic.twitter.com/OC5QSMwQ0j

— Matt Harris (@MHarrisWSOC9) June 10, 2020

Richardson’s spokesman Jim Gray released a statement to WSOC TV, saying “Mr. Richardson has made no public comments about the Panthers or the NFL since the sale of the team and doesn’t plan to do so now as a private citizen.” 

“He has worked to treat all people fairly in his business and personal lives and, like many other Americans, is troubled by recent events in Minneapolis, Charlotte and around the country,” Gray continued. 

The statue’s removal comes as protests have broken out in Charlotte and other cities across the country in the past two weeks over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. The mostly peaceful protesters are calling for police reform, but some have set their targets on Confederate and Christopher Columbus statues, leading to them being defaced or toppled.