Philadelphia Eagles Respond to Controversial Political Ad Claims

A counterfeit political advertisement has falsely claimed the Philadelphia Eagles’ endorsement of Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign, drawing widespread condemnation.

At a Glance

The Philadelphia Eagles are working to remove counterfeit political ads around the city.
The ads falsely claim Kamala Harris as the “official candidate of the Philadelphia Eagles.”
The ads include the Eagles logo and direct people to a real voting information website.
The Eagles have clarified that these ads are not real.
The fake ad has caused a significant reaction on social media, with some users expressing frustration over the mix of politics and sports.

Philadelphia Eagles Denounce False Political Ad Claiming Support for Kamala Harris

The Philadelphia Eagles have taken swift action against counterfeit political advertisements falsely indicating their endorsement of Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign. These misleading ads were plastered on bus shelters throughout Philadelphia, incorporating the Eagles’ logo and directing people to a legitimate voting information website: https://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/vote.

The team has been unequivocal in their denouncement of the ads, labeling them as fraudulent and unauthorized.

The sudden appearance of the counterfeit ads has created confusion and frustration among fans and residents. Philadelphia Eagles officials made an official statement, saying, “We are aware counterfeit political ads are being circulated and are working with our advertising partner to have them removed.” This clear, assertive response aims to reassure the public of the team’s non-involvement in political endorsements.

We are aware counterfeit political ads are being circulated and are working with our advertising partner to have them removed.

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) September 2, 2024

The Extent of the Counterfeit Ad Campaign

These counterfeit posters have been spotted in numerous bus shelters across the city. Intersection, the media company that owns the shelters, confirmed that the ad boxes had been illegally accessed and the ads improperly inserted. A company spokesperson stated, “Our bus shelters have locks, but unauthorized access was somehow gained.” This security breach underscores the lengths to which the perpetrators went to create this false narrative.

“These were not digital ads placed by the Harris campaign, the Philadelphia Eagles, SEPTA, the City of Philadelphia, or the media agency Intersection that handles the transit ad space,” emphasized a representative from Intersection.

For a reporter to not report that the subject is also committing vandalism is bad journalism. https://t.co/KlBoU2H8xe

— O.J. Spivey (@OJPhilly) September 3, 2024

Reactions and Ongoing Efforts

Fans have shown significant concern over the misuse of Eagles branding for political propaganda. One Eagles fan named Joe took it upon himself to cover one of the counterfeit ads, expressing, “This person is lying to everyone who comes and uses this stop. That’s what I’m very concerned about. The fact that they’re spreading lies that the Philadelphia Eagles endorsed Kamala Harris as a candidate for president of the United States.”

While the Harris campaign has yet to comment on the incident, the city is planning to conduct a comprehensive inventory of bus shelters to remove any remaining counterfeit posters. City spokespersons confirmed the ads were illegally placed and were not associated with any legitimate campaign or organization. The origin of the ads remains unknown, leading to speculation about whether legal consequences will follow.

Speculation on social media suggests street artist Winston Tseng may be involved, given his history of using corporate brands in art to make societal points. However, no concrete evidence has surfaced linking him directly to this incident. Philadelphia’s Office of Transportation and Infrastructure Systems has branded the unauthorized posters as vandalism and vowed to remove them promptly.

Citizens can take comfort in knowing that the Eagles and Intersection are collaborating diligently to restore the integrity of the team’s brand and the city’s public spaces. The swift, coordinated response from these entities illustrates their commitment to preventing the misuse of their platforms for deceptive political messaging.