The Philadelphia Eagles announced on Monday that they are collaborating with their advertising partner to remove unauthorized posters that falsely depict the team endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris. These posters, which were seen at various Philadelphia bus stops, feature Harris dressed in Eagles gear, holding a football, and labeling her as the team's “official candidate.”
The images began circulating on social media platform X, leading to questions about whether the Eagles had endorsed Harris. In response, the team clarified in a statement that the ads were fake and that they were working to have them taken down.
Local news outlets reported that the posters had appeared at several bus stop locations across the city. The posters also included a link providing voting information for New Jersey and Pennsylvania residents.
Eagles Nation, a fan website linked to the team, also mentioned that the team had not made any formal announcement regarding the election, noting that the Eagles’ Voting Resource website had not been updated since the primary season.
Intersection Media, the company that manages the advertising space, stated that they were aware of the situation. A spokesperson for the company explained that although their bus shelters have locks to prevent unauthorized access, sometimes individuals manage to bypass these locks and replace legitimate ads with their own. The company is in the process of removing the unauthorized content.
As of now, it remains unknown how many of the Harris-themed posters were distributed around the city, nor has any group or artist claimed responsibility for them. Additionally, it is unclear if any NFL team has ever officially endorsed a presidential candidate, though it is common for team owners to make political donations.
A 2020 report from OpenSecrets indicated that NFL owners typically support Republican candidates. For instance, New York Jets owner Woody Johnson contributed $2.2 million to GOP candidates in 2020, particularly to then-President Donald Trump.
Pennsylvania, a crucial battleground state with 19 electoral votes, is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming election. Mail-in ballots will be sent out on Sept. 16, 50 days before the general election.
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