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Jets owner Woody Johnson has denied allegations of racism, sexism and corruption while serving as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Johnson, who was appointed by President Donald Trump in November 2017, was investigated by State Department watchdogs for a number of allegations, according to reports from The New York Times and CNN. Jets Wire broke down the numerous allegations against Johnson, which included but were not limited to:
- Asking the UK government to move the British Open golf tournament to Trump Turnberry resort in Scotland, a move that would have benefited the president’s personal finances.
- Questioning why African Americans would want a Black History Month, resisting an event in which he asked if the crowd would be comprised of “a whole bunch of black people,” and referring to Black fathers leaving their families as the “real challenge.”
- Objectifying, excluding and belittling women and women’s related events on numerous occasions.
Johnson, however, made a sweeping denial of the accusations on Wednesday via his official ambassador Twitter account.
“I have followed the ethical rules and requirements of my office at all times,” Johnson wrote. “These false claims of insensitive remarks about race and gender are totally inconsistent with my longstanding record and values.”
As of Johnson’s tweet, the Jets had yet to release a statement on the story. The NFL is aware of it but deferred comment to the State Department. CNN reported that a spokesperson said the State Department stands by Johnson.
The story has captured the attention of players past and present, including current Jets safety Jamal Adams. Referring to Johnson’s status as owner, Adams called for a change at the top in a pair of tweets.
The allegations against Johnson come at a time when the NFL is reckoning with its handling of racial and social injustice and sexual harassment against women. In the wake of George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police, the league has announced donations meant to combat systemic racism, among other initiatives. The Washington football team successfully was pressured into retiring its nickname, a racist slur for Native Americans. That organization, however, has since come under fire for allegations of sexual harassment from 15 women, thus sparking an industry-wide discussion of how female employees are treated in the world of sports.
The Jets issued a statement on social and racial injustice in early June saying that they hoped to create “positive change” within different communities, though the statement did not address specific plans on how the organization would do so.
A billionaire Republican donor, Johnson, 73, initially backed Jeb Bush in the 2016 Republican presidential primary before supporting Trump. The heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune had no prior diplomatic experience before being named ambassador. When his term began in 2017, Johnson relinquished day-to-day operations of the Jets to his younger brother, Christopher.
The elder Johnson’s three-year term as ambassador ends later this year.