NASCAR Driver Issues Statement Following Suspension: Endorsement Gone Wrong

  • by:
  • Source: Wayne Dupree
  • 08/07/2023
NASCAR Driver Noah Gragson has released a formal statement subsequent to his indefinite suspension, which was imposed due to his endorsement of a meme that derided the tragic demise of George Floyd. Floyd, an African American, lost his life on May 25, 2020, as a result of a white Minneapolis police officer applying pressure to his neck for a duration of 9 minutes and 30 seconds.

The death of Floyd ignited widespread protests on a global scale, which were primarily spearheaded by the Black Lives Matter movement and other related groups. As of April 2021, Derek Chauvin, the officer who was responsible for applying pressure to Floyd's neck, has been convicted of murder.

HELP US CONTINUE TO BRING YOU THE BEST NEWS, OPINIONS

Furthermore, subsequent to the unfortunate demise of Floyd, NASCAR made the decision to prohibit the display of the Confederate flag at its events and venues. This action was prompted by Bubba Wallace, the sole African American driver in the sport, who advocated for the ban, asserting that there is unequivocally no room for such a symbol within NASCAR.

The Legacy Motor Club recently declared the indefinite suspension of their 25-year-old NASCAR driver on Saturday, August 5th, due to his violation of the member conduct section outlined in the organization's rules. Partially, the regulations stipulate that individuals are prohibited from publicly denigrating individuals on the basis of their personal history.

Gragson, a novice driver in the Cup Series, NASCAR's premier league, relinquished his position to Josh Berry subsequent to the discovery of his endorsement of a racially insensitive meme that derided the demise of George Floyd.

The meme depicted a photograph of a crab in its natural habitat, the ocean, with the manipulated addition of George Floyd's head superimposed onto the crab's physique. The image contained a textual element that stated, "Beneath the knee. Beneath the knee," which derisively alluded to the manner in which Floyd's life was taken, while making a reference to the renowned song from the film 'The Little Mermaid,' titled "Under The Sea."

After facing suspension and eliciting public outcry on various social media platforms, Gragson utilized his official account on the platform X, previously recognized as Twitter. Although the meme was not explicitly discussed, the individual did acknowledge their actions.

In a social media post, Gragson shared an image of the Legacy Motor Club, revealing that he has been subjected to an indefinite suspension and will be substituted by another driver. The official statement stated that Noah Gragson has been promptly suspended due to his actions that are incongruent with the principles upheld by our team. Josh Berry has been selected as the designated driver for the No. 42 vehicle in the upcoming NASCAR Cup Series event at Michigan.

In response to the photograph, Gragson expressed his disappointment in his own negligence and behavior on social media. I comprehend the gravity of this circumstance. I hold a deep affection and profound gratitude towards all individuals. I make a conscious effort to ensure equitable treatment for all individuals, regardless of their personal characteristics or identities. I made an error in a straightforward and uncomplicated manner.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM WAYNEDUPREE.COM





 

Get latest news delivered daily!

We will send you breaking news right to your inbox

© 2024 Wayne Dupree, Privacy Policy