Had the Panthers not taken down the statue of Jerry Richardson in front of Bank of America Stadium, somebody else would have done it for them.
At least, that's the reasoning the team is going with.
The Panthers had the controversial statue of their founder and former owner removed Wednesday, a couple years after Richardson sold the franchise to David Tepper for $2.2 billion in the wake of allegations of sexual misconduct in the workplace. The Panthers in a statement said they were "moving" the statue, and the Charlotte Observer reported "it will remain to be seen when and if" the statue will be put back.
Jerry Richardson statue is off Panthers property. pic.twitter.com/TjpPsBPrRt
— Joe Person (@josephperson) June 10, 2020
"We were aware of the most recent conversation surrounding the Jerry Richardson statue and are concerned there may be attempts to take it down," the team said. "We are moving the statue in the interest of public safety."
Indeed, protesters against racial injustice have taken to the streets of Charlotte in the weeks following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police. The 13-foot statue was located on the north side of the stadium. According to the Observer, "there has been speculation online that the statue would be an eventual target" of protesters.
Panthers statues will be leaving with Richardson. pic.twitter.com/wMPJ2JmkGs
— Joe Person (@josephperson) June 10, 2020
The Panthers are removing the statue of Jerry Richardson right now. pic.twitter.com/0x9eNsEHN2
— Steve Reed (@SteveReedAP) June 10, 2020
A spokesman for Richardson, 83, released the following statement on the Panthers moving the statue: "Mr. Richardson has made no public comments about the Panthers or the NFL since the sale of the team and doesn't plan to do so now as a private citizen. He has worked to treat all people fairly in his business and personal lives and, like many other Americans, is troubled by recent events in Minneapolis, Charlotte, and around the country."
After his purchase of the team in 2018, Tepper told reporters he was "contractually obligated" to keep the Richardson statue in place.
A couple weeks before his sale of the team was finalized, Richardson was fined $2.75 million by the NFL after a league investigation confirmed allegations of workplace misconduct. Sports Illustrated a few months prior had reported that at least four former Panthers employees received "significant" monetary settlements as a result of inappropriate workplace conduct by Richardson, including "sexually suggestive language and behavior, and on at least one occasion directing a racial slur at an African-American Panthers scout."
Days after that report was published, Richardson announced he would sell the team.