Oregon apologizes for 'offensive and disgraceful' chant directed at BYU during Saturday's game
The University of Oregon has issued an apology after footage of an explicit and derogatory chant directed at BYU fans surfaced during Saturday’s game between the two programs. A section of the crowd inside Autzen Stadium began chanting “f— the Mormons” during the game.
The video led to outrage from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, who denounced the chant on Twitter: “Religious bigotry alive and celebrated in Oregon.”
BYU is a private university in Utah sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Nearly all of the more than 30,000 students at BYU are Mormons.
Oregon issued a statement on Twitter Sunday evening, calling the chant “offensive and disgraceful.”
“The University of Oregon sincerely apologizes for an offensive and disgraceful chant coming from the student section during yesterday’s game against Brigham Young University. These types of actions go against everything the university stands for, and it goes against the spirit of competition. We can and will do better as a campus community that has no place for hate, bias or bigotry.”
The University of Oregon sincerely apologizes for an offensive and disgraceful chant coming from the student section during yesterday’s game against Brigham Young University. 1/2
— University of Oregon (@uoregon) September 18, 2022
Oregon Gov. Kate Brown also issued a statement on the incident: “In Oregon, we strive to be a welcoming, inclusive state to all, regardless of race, religion, gender, or background. Our state and nation have an ugly history of discrimination and bigotry. The chant at yesterday’s Oregon-BYU game was unacceptable. We must do better.”