Jets owner Robert "Woody" Johnson is in big trouble after multiple reports surfaced Tuesday that the billionaire and Ambassador to the United Kingdom was investigated by the U.S. State Department Inspector General for apparent racist and sexist comments he made to staff.
The controversies have now led many to jump on social media demanding that Johnson be reprimanded by the NFL, and possibly sell his ownership stake in the New York Jets.
According to CNN, Johnson reportedly "questioned why the Black community celebrates Black History Month" and made some rather "cringeworthy" comments about women's looks.
In 2018 at a Black History Month event, Johnson "appeared agitated and asked if the audience would be a whole bunch of black people," according to an unnamed source.
CNN added that four sources told them that Johnson hosted parties at a men's only club in London. One source told CNN that Johnson would remark on how attractive the women looked, how he prefered to work with women becuase they came "cheaper and worked harder than men," and that he would comment on the way women dressed in the embassy."
CNN did not reveal the identity of the sources.
However former Deputy Chief of Mission Lewis Lukens, who reportedly clashed with Johnson over the British Open controversy, told the network that he was "aware of the allegations," against Johnson.
What's most damning of Johnson is that did not deny the allegations when asked about them. Johnson tried to take the high road, saying that serving as ambassador has been a "honor of a lifetime."
This is not the first time that Johnson has humiliated himself since becoming Ambassador to England. Last year during the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, Johnson was seated two rows behind the President when he whipped out his cell phone while Queen Elizabeth II was making a speech. The photos of Johnson either looking at his phone or allegedly taking photos of Her Majesty the Queen drew the ire of a lot of people.
If the latest allegations of sexism and racism are indeed true, than Johnson is in big, big trouble. For starters President Trump would have no choice but to remove him as Ambassador to England.
Johnson was expected to leave the position anyway in November.
Would Johnson have to sell the Jets? That is an intriguing question.
The NFL right now finds itself in the middle of political turmoil right now -- most of which it has embraced being apart of. Since the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer, the NFL has bent over backwards to come across as socially "woke" to the point that Roger Goodell issued mea culpas for not taking social injustice seriously enough in the past to mandating the controversial playing of a "black national anthem" at all NFL games for Week 1 later this year. The NFL is also allowing players to wear Black Lives Matter stickers on the backs of their helmets -- the same league that wouldn't allow the Cowboys wear the names of fallen police officers just four years ago.
Moreover the Washington Redskins find themselves embroiled in controversy having to change their name due to financial pressure from FedEx, and reports of sexual misconduct revolving around 15 women who claimed they were harassed and abused by Redskins' team employees. For his part, Washington owner Dan Synder might be forced out as well.
Woody Johnson's time as Jets owner is on thin ice, and with the catcalls for him to sell the team only expected increase it will be fascinating to see how much longer he and his brother Christopher try to sweep these controversies under the rug and hold on.
If the Johnson's do indeed sell, who would be interested? Knicks and Rangers owner James Dolan once fancied to buy the Jets back in 2000 when the family of Leon Hess put the team up for sale before selling to Johnson. Would Dolan, who is no stranger to mismanagement of sports franchises and controversy himself be an interested buyer?
What about Steve Cohen? Cohen is the favorite in the clubhouse to buy the New York Mets from their unscrupulous owners Fred and Jeff Wilpon. Would Cohen, who is a multi-billion dollar hedge fund manager, be interested in buying a football team too?
J-Rod? Yes, we all know that Alex Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez are also in on the Mets deal, but let's say that falls through, would they be interested in a football team?
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