A women’s group is now calling for sponsors to drop Peyton Manning after the quarterback’s sexual assault case from college resurfaced in recent weeks.
Manning’s case was mentioned in a lawsuit filed by six women who claim the University of Tennessee has harbored “a hostile discriminatory sexual environment for female students.” The suit lists multiple cases where student athletes were accused of sexual assault and the school did little to address the matter. Manning’s case was cited as an example.
“When institutions like the University of Tennessee tacitly condone violence against women by ignoring cases of sexual assault by student-athletes, it perpetuates a dangerous culture of violence that ultimately hurts women everywhere,” UltraViolet co-founder Nita Chaudhary said in a statement.
“While it is outrageous that the University of Tennessee chose to turn a blind eye to sexual violence by student athletes like Manning, it would be flat out unacceptable for the NFL and major companies like Nationwide Insurance and Papa John’s Pizza to continue to stand with Manning in light of emerging evidence.”
Manning’s case, in which the quarterback as accused of putting his rear and genitals in a female trainer’s face, was settled in 1997 for an undisclosed amount. The case has popped back up in the media in recent weeks. First The Daily Beast wrote a column a week ahead of the Super Bowl to remind people about the case. Then Black Lives Matter leader Shaun King wrote two articles highlighting newer information from a 2002 defamation suit that makes Manning look worse.
Manning is currently weighing his playing future and considering retirement. He has long been one of the faces of the NFL and a spokesman for the league, appearing in multiple advertisement campaigns such as ones for DirecTV, Nationwide and Papa John’s.
Though Manning’s image is taking a hit over the recent exposure of his old case, there are those who believe it is just a smear campaign.
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