ESPN personality Rob Parker was suspended indefinitely over comments where he questioned if Robert Griffin III is black enough.
“Following yesterday’s comments Rob Parker has been suspended until further notice,” ESPN spokesman Mike Soltys said. “We are conducting a full review.”
Parker on “First Take” had asked whether RGIII is “a brother, or is he a cornball brother? … He’s not real. Okay, he’s black, he kind of does the thing, but he’s not really down with the cause. He’s not one of us. He’s kind of black, but he’s not really, like, the guy you want to hang out with because he’s off to something else.”
Robert Griffin II, Griffin’s father, told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday, “I wouldn’t say it’s racism. I would just say some people put things out there about people so they can stir things up.”
DeMaurice Smith, executive director of the NFL Players Association, told the Post in an email:
“Robert can certainly take care of himself. Nonetheless, I hope that our men and for that matter, my own kids, will never beg for authenticity from someone who can only talk about the things that other people have the courage to do. People need to be held accountable for the offensive things that they say.”
