A Philadelphia Eagles fan who went viral during a playoff game against the Green Bay Packers is speaking out after being banned from the stadium and fired from his job due to abusive behavior toward a female Packers fan.
Ryan Caldwell, the Eagles fan at the center of the incident, issued a statement to the New York Post expressing his regret. “During last Sunday’s NFL game, where I was cheering for my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, a situation unfolded that I deeply regret,” Caldwell said. “What started as lighthearted banter with two Packers fans sitting nearby escalated, and I made unacceptable comments. In a heated moment, I used unforgivable language toward one of the fans, Ms. Ally Keller.”
He continued, “I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for my words, as well as to my wife, family, friends, former colleagues, Packers fans, Eagles fans, the Philadelphia Eagles organization, the City of Philadelphia, and anyone else who was offended. However, I believe there are two sides to every story. The viral video clip does not show the full context of what happened, and my actions were not entirely without provocation. This incident is something I will have to live with, and I am already paying a personal price. For those who don’t know me, this does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others—it is not indicative of who I am as a person.”
Caldwell was banned from attending games at Lincoln Financial Field after a video surfaced showing him insulting a female Packers fan, calling her “an ugly dumb (expletive)” in the stands.
His employer, BCT Partners, a management consulting firm in New Jersey, also terminated his employment following an internal investigation. In a statement, the company emphasized its zero-tolerance stance on such behavior: “After completing an investigation into an employee seen in a video outside of work making highly offensive and misogynistic remarks, we have decided to terminate their employment effective immediately.
“Our company is founded on the principles of respect, dignity, and inclusion,” the statement continued. “The conduct displayed in the video was vile, disgusting, and unacceptable. It does not align with our values, our workplace culture, or our society as a whole.”
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