PITTSBURGH,None — Pittsburgh Steelers running back Rashard Mendenhall has lost his endorsement from Champion over tweets he sent out Monday regarding the death of Osama bin Laden.
"What kind of person celebrates death? It's amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We've only heard one side ...," Mendenhall wrote in a post on Monday afternoon. "I believe in God. I believe we're ALL his children. And I believe HE is the ONE and ONLY judge."
When another Twitter poster suggested that bin Laden wasn't responsible for the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, Mendenhall responded: "We'll never know what really happened. I just have a hard time believing a plane could take a skyscraper down demolition style."
Champion said it no longer believes Mendenhall can appropriately represent the company.
Mendenhall has since removed the tweets and apologized.
In a blog post titled "Clarification," Mendenhall wrote Wednesday, "This controversial statement was something I said in response to the amount of joy I saw in the event of a murder. I don't believe that this is an issue of politics or American pride; but one of religion, morality, and human ethics. In the bible, Ezekiel 33:11 states, "Say to them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live. Turn! Turn from your evil ways!...". I wasn't questioning Bin Laden's evil acts. I believe that he will have to face God for what he has done. I was reflecting on our own hypocrisy. During 9/11 we watched in horror as parts of the world celebrated death on our soil."
To read more of Mendenhall's blog, click here
Previous Stories: May 4, 2011: Mendenhall Offers Clarification Of Controversial Bin Laden Tweets
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