The University of Colorado is condemning sports fans who chanted anti-Mormon jeers during a Sept. 27 game against the Brigham Young University Cougars.
“The University of Colorado Boulder strongly condemns the use of expletives and religious slurs by individuals in the stands during the recent football game against BYU,” athletic director Rick George and chancellor Justin Schwartz said in a joint statement released Sept. 28.
“Such behavior is deeply disappointing and does not reflect the values of respect, inclusion and integrity we expect of our campus community,” the statement added.
According to The New York Times, during the game CU fans repeatedly chanted “F— the Mormons” at players from BYU, a college founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Sports journalist Ronald Lee Weaver III, who is a recent graduate of BYU, tweeted a video shot during the game where spectators can be heard yelling the phrase.
It’s not the first time athletes from BYU have been taunted with slurs aimed at their faith during a road game.
In February, the University of Arizona apologized after its fans chanted the profanity at BYU’s basketball team in Tucson, the Times reported.
In September 2022, the University of Oregon issued a similar apology after fans of their school’s football team repeatedly chanted the expletive at players from BYU.
Utah’s governor, Spencer Cox, shared a video of the crowd on X at the time chanting to point to the incident as a form of “religious bigotry.”
The BYU Cougars responded to CU’s statement Sept. 29 in a statement shared on X.
“We denounce all forms of religious discrimination & appreciate @CUBoulder’s example in rooting out these inappropriate actions,” the university wrote. “We invite all to showcase their fandom with enthusiasm & respect.”