The former employers of a Philadelphia Eagles fan are speaking out against some of the backlash the company received following the man’s incident with two Green Bay Packers fans over the weekend.
Lawrence Hibbert and Dr. Randal Pinkett, the co-founders of DEI-focused BCT Partners in New Jersey, spoke with TMZ Sports and defended their company against negative social media posts and reviews that were left in line following the incident.
“Some posts, some comments that have been made about our company are as vile, if not more so, than the comments made about (Ryan Caldwell). That’s the point, right?” Pinkett said. “That’s the problem with the culture that we’ve created that we find ourselves in, is that there’s no room for grace. There’s no room, there’s just two extremes, you’re either fine or you’re canceled.
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Philadelphia Eagles fans cheer during a game against the Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on January 12, 2025. (Eric Hartline-Imagn Images)
“We believe there is common ground that allows us to recover from our mistakes, learn and grow. We believe Mr. Caldwell can learn and grow, but we believe our society can also learn and grow. grow up. That we can criticize the behavior, we can condemn the behavior without condemning the individual.
Hibbert lamented in recent days, given that the company is celebrating a major milestone.
“It’s been a really difficult time over the last 24 to 48 hours,” Hibbert said, adding that the company was celebrating its 25th anniversary. “…And when you receive posts on social media and in national media calling into question your integrity and the way you work, it hurts. But we also believe that we can stand on our track record and we wanted to take advantage of these opportunities to affirm that even in difficult times we will operate according to our value system, doing what we believe is right.
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The fan was identified as Ryan Caldwell and the company announced it had parted ways with him on Tuesday. Pinkett said they knew it was Caldwell from the video.
Philadelphia Eagles fans react against the Green Bay Packers during an NFC wild card game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on January 12, 2025. (Bill Streicher-Imagn Images)
“I cannot say enough about the abhorrent behavior we observed and how distressed I was to see someone who was at the time associated with our company display this type of behavior,” he said. he declared.
Caldwell was seen berating a Packers fan while her fiancé recorded the incident. He called her a “c— idiot” and a “c—” on several occasions.
Caldwell released a statement to PK Press Club Digital on Wednesday.
“While attending an NFL game this past Sunday in support of my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” he said. “What started as a joke with two Packers fans sitting near me escalated into something more serious, and I said things that were unacceptable. In the heat of the moment, I chose ruthless words to address one of the fans:
“Ms. Ally Keller. I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for these words, as well as to my wife, my family and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packers fans, Eagles fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the city of Philadelphia, and everyone who was offended That said, there are two sides to every story.
Detailed view of a Philadelphia Eagles helmet against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)
“The video clip circulating online does not reflect the full context of what happened, and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience, and I am certainly paying the price personally. For Those who don’t know me, this incident does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others and is not indicative of the person I am.”
