Bears' Wright Apologizes for Porn Promotion
By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jun 16, 2011 3:20PM
With all the extra free time on their hands due to the NFL lockout, players are finding creative ways to spend their time. While some might be out doing charity work or maintaining an intense workout regimen, others are hosting parties at nightclubs with porn stars -- including the Bears' Major Wright.
The second-year safety is NFL players involved in a league investigation of a porn star party at a Miami beach nightclub where players' photos in their team uniforms were used in the advertisement, which is a violation of league licensing rules. While players are free to promote events like this, they cannot be shown wearing NFL logos or have their team mentioned if the company or event isn't an official NFL partner. Which neither Club Play nor Exxxotica Expo 2011 are.
Yesterday, Wright apologized for his likeness, in uniform, being used to promote the Exxxotica Expo. Wright said in a statement, “I authorized my name and likeness to be used in conjunction with other NFL players at a party I believed to be hosted by other NFL players...” but he apparently thought it was in conjunction with a popular Miami Beach nightclub and not a porn star expo. Wright's agent stated that he never gave the club permission to use a photo of him in uniform. Meanwhile, the nightclub's general manager Lia Ames said that the players featured were promoting another event listed on the same flyer, and not the porn star expo specifically.
While the whole thing sounds like an overblown case of some designer not knowing about NFL licensing rules and guilt by association, Wright nonetheless sounded embarrassed about his involvement in the event, saying in his statement:
The use of my picture in a Chicago Bear uniform was never discussed or approved. It is unfortunate that this incident has occurred, and I would like to let the Bears organization, our fans, my teammates, family and friends know that I am truly sorry. I have learned a valuable lesson and will use more prudent judgment with people I associate myself with in the future.