Florida A&M University has suspended all football-related activities after a rap music video featuring some of the team’s players was filmed without permission in a football locker room.
Football head coach Willie R. Simmons threw a statement Friday night addressing the incident: «The video contained graphic language that is not consistent with Florida A&M’s core values, principles and beliefs,» Simmons wrote.
“While I am a proud advocate of free speech and support all forms of musical expression, this football team (as ambassadors for Florida A&M University) has a responsibility to protect the image of the University,” he said.
An internal investigation is underway to determine who allowed the use of the sports facilities.
Simmons also told the Associated Press that he would meet with the players visible in the video over the weekend and that a team meeting was scheduled for Monday.
The players filmed in the video were not immediately identified.
Rapper Real Boston Richey, whose name is Jalen Foster, released the video, “Send A Blitz” on Friday. As of Sunday morning, it racked up more than 311,000 views on Youtube.
Tallahassee native rapper wrote on Instagram that the video was filmed in 24 hours. The clips show the inside of a locker room with the FAMU logo on the seats and people dressed in university clothes.
The licensed clothing shown in the video «potentially violates university branding and license agreements,» according to Simmons.
“It is a privilege to wear the orange and green and as a football program our youth have not been able to live up to the standard set before us,” Simmons said. «Everyone will learn from this mishap and we will continue to work hard every day to become the best version of ourselves and continue to make the Rattler Nation proud.»