NFL’s Reaction To White House Using Their Highlights For Video Promoting War In Iran Gets Plenty Of Attention
This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.
The NFL is taking heat over its reaction to the White House’s use of its footage to brag about bombing Iran.
Football fans would be well aware of the league’s disclaimer regarding its footage.
“Any rebroadcast or other use of this telecast without the express written consent of the NFL is prohibited,” it states.
However, the White House shared a controversial clip via social media this week, celebrating the war in the Middle Eastern state. The post included footage from NFL and college football games, comparing the airstrikes to some notable gridiron hits.
It’s shown right below:
Actor Ben Stiller lashed out after a snippet from his ‘Tropic Thunder’ appeared in a similar video.
The NFL, however, has been curiously silent. And ProFootballTalk is calling them out.
“On Tuesday, we asked the league for comment as to the use of NFL-copyrighted footage for the clip. We received no response,” the publication reported on Friday.
Former Players Criticise White House’s Video
The Washington Post’s Robert Klemko was also met with silence after an inquiry.
Klemko penned an article on Thursday featuring a quote from former Nebraska wide receiver Kenny Bell.
“For that play to be associated with bombing human beings makes me sick,” Bell said. “I don’t want anything to do with images like that.”
“I think it is very important to draw the line somewhere and this video is a really good example of where to draw the line,” he added. “The killing of people is something that’s very, very serious and should not be taken lightly. . . . It scares me for our society that you can be scrolling through social media looking at dog photos and suddenly you’re seeing someone blown up.”
Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Mason Foster shared a similar view. Foster’s hit on Chad Johnson featured in the clip.
“I’m at a loss for words,” he said. “It’s a strange feeling, seeing those clips like that. I don’t think anything going on in the world today is as simple as a great football play or a hit. I’m still wrapping my head around it. . . . When people are losing their lives, I don’t think it can compare to a game.”
Ryan Clark, a former Pittsburgh Steelers safety, now at ESPN, is in the promo of sorts. It shows him delivering a hit on former New England Patriots WR Wes Walker.
Clark is also unhappy with the video.
“I am disappointed that the video was even made,” Clark said. “To have [Thunderstruck] and football highlights on a video about war is one of the more insensitive things that I’ve ever seen. There are families here in our country whose loved ones have decided to give their lives to fight for our rights and our freedoms, who don’t see war as a sport. War doesn’t deserve a highlight film.
“For our regime to be as unserious, as unprofessional, as laughable, and as illegitimate as our leadership is right now, is embarrassing. And it tells you the difference between a public servant and a reality star, right?” Clark said, per Kleen. “Because the reality star needs everybody to know at all times, ‘Look at me, look at the attention I’m garnering, we’re doing this for me.’ The public servant stands at attention for 45 minutes in a salute because he understands what those soldiers who gave their lives have done for our country.
“I think we’ve lost, 100 percent, any credibility. We’ve lost all decorum, we’ve lost all integrity, we’ve lost all character. And I believe that. . . . the White House post involving myself and other NFL players is absolutely disgusting and despicable.”
The video remains on the White House’s X page, while the NFL continues to be silent.
