Riley Cooper was Made Aware of Video Before its Release

Riley_blockedOver the past few days, many people – from those on Twitter to Eagles beat writers to TV anchors – have suggested that the video of Riley Cooper using the N-word at the Kenny Chesney concert could (or should) have been turned over to Cooper or the Eagles rather than shopped to media outlets or posted on this site. The implication was that it would have earned the person who sold us the video more money than he eventually received, or that we could have agreed not to post the video in exchange for money. We, however, believe that suggestion to be extortion, and the idea was never even considered. As for the person who sent us the video, though? Well, he, along with several of his friends, did contact Cooper about the video’s existence before reaching out to multiple local and national outlets, including Deadspin, Barstool, TMZ and others.

The video had been circulated amongst a small group of friends, several of whom contacted Cooper via Twitter over the past month and a half. Two of the people who contacted Cooper, one of whom eventually provided us with the video, confirmed that Cooper blocked them on Twitter, perhaps as recently as Sunday night.

Before releasing the video, we knew that Cooper had been contacted about its existence, but were unaware of the extent to which attempts to reach him occurred. Our source estimates that, since mid-June, Cooper was “tweeted at” 10-15 times by at least three separate accounts about the video in which he threatened to “jump the fence and fight every nigger” at the Chesney concert. All of those Tweets have since been deleted, but we’ve seen several of them and can confirm their existence.

One of Cooper’s friends was also contacted about the video, in a more direct manner. There was no response.

In one Tweet to Cooper, he was asked why he wasn’t taking the claims seriously. In another, he was asked to follow and message our source about the video.

One person even joked to Cooper, asking him who?! it was he planned to fight when he jumped the fence.

Marcus Vick’s vicious Tweet about Paula Deen, following her public humiliation for admitting to having used the N-word, was even mentioned to Cooper as a way to get his attention. You don’t want Marcus to find out about this was the tongue-in-cheek inference (and it was a good one, too– Marcus put a bounty on Cooper’s head when he saw the video).

Cooper never responded to any of the Tweets.

At some point last weekend, our source estimates, Cooper blocked two of the accounts that had been tweeting at him about the video.

The friends claim that they weren’t trying to “blackmail” Cooper, though we’ll likely never know that for sure. But even if Cooper had responded and halted the video’s release on Wednesday, it may not have mattered. Our source says that the video had been shared with perhaps over a dozen people and would have likely found its way to the media or YouTube eventually.

It’s worth noting that Cooper had roughly 56k followers before the video’s release on Wednesday, and he undoubtedly received many Tweets from fans and others. In theory, it’s entirely possible that he didn’t see the Tweets about the video. But the fact that he blocked at least two of the people who had been tweeting him about its existence makes that scenario highly unlikely. Cooper saw the Tweets. Whether he remembered the incident at the concert or believed the claims about the video… well, that’s another matter.

On Wednesday, Cooper told reporters that he had been alone at the concert. That was untrue. He also told reporters that the video had been brought to his attention “a couple hours ago.” We believe that claim was also untrue.

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62 Responses

  1. So, why post the video on this site? Journalistic integrity? How did it benefit the public trust?

  2. Most of your material isn’t about sports, it’s about our athletes’ personal lives, and deservedly so. They’re famous and held in a higher regard, especially in our city. Whatever pays the bills.

    But you’re pulling a non-existent story out of your ass now. You poked holes in your own argument by admitting his number of followers and the fact he never acknowledged any of the tweets. So what he blocked two of those jerk-offs? Perhaps he went back through after this all came out to see if he had missed something, found their tweets, and subsequently blocked them? Is that not plausible?

    1. “Two of the people who contacted Cooper, one of whom eventually provided us with the video, confirmed that Cooper blocked them on Twitter, perhaps as recently as Sunday night.”

      He blocked them before they sent us the video.

    2. They said he was blocked on Sunday. So he knew. It wouldn’t have matter hit would of came out. I’m Black and this to me could have happen to anyone. Everyone ishas some prejudice in them. This comment doesn’t make him a racist. Black people make jokes and comments about white people all the time no one thinks that’s so bad. I hate the fact when people make non criminal mistake and they lose their job or livelihood. He doesn’t deserve to lose his job or get suspended. A fibe was suffice. People are so weak minded. When we grow up we here tje phrase “Sticks and stonesay break my bones but words will never hurt me” As adults we aren’t living by that mantra. Us as black people if you don’t want people to say that word then don’t use it in front of them. Kevin Garnet says it all the time. We treat him like some type of hero. Riley Cooper doesn’t know about the civil right struggle firsthand all he knows is that black players he played use the word as free as the word “man”.

  3. I will give up my seat if you stop posting about Riley Cooper.

    It’s over, Kyle. You won the war against racism.

    -rosa

  4. So what are you telling us now Kyle, aside from being a racist Cooper is also a liar? What a terrible person. Can’t we just let this guy fade off into obscurity already.

  5. Kyle you are a trader against the Eagles now they won’t win the Super Bowl and you should trade in your Philly sports card sincerely every white fan troll who worship athletes, stand in line for hours for autographs, call sports stations to defend their heros, would suck an athletes ball sack for them to talk them.

  6. I don’t think Cooper saying he was “alone” is a big deal, and I believe he said it meaning the confrontation with the security guard involved he alone, and none of his teammates had anything to do with his highly inappropriate actions.
    At the end of the show many of his teammates were invited onstage along with Chip Kelly, so obviously Cooper knew that people knew he was not there alone.
    His saying he was “alone” was simply his way of saying the whole deal is his responsibilty.

  7. Why are you animals giving Kyle a hard time? Because he’s holding a mirror up to your ugly souls? Because he’s covering a story that, well, IS a story whether you like it or not?

    Or is it what I think it is. Once again, one of your beloved teams is a distracted, dysfunctional laughing stock that the nation laughs at. And it is KILLING you. You guys have no idea how fantastic it is to have real, successful teams to root for. Good luck in 2013!

      1. No. And he never did rape anyone. And he’s preparing for another likely successful season. Unlike you Kensos, we actually have realistic hopes of a Super Bowl year after year. But….I’m sure you knew that already. You’re welcome.

          1. Really? Do you really need me to respond to that? Thank you for playing. Next!

    1. It’s mostly because Kyle was willing to harm the career of a player on a team he supposedly cares about, for his 15 minutes.

      1. Hmmmmm. We may have a winner here. But, again, this is indeed a story. Hard to fault Kyle on this one. But nice try! It’s good to see there’s someone with a functional brain in your part of the world.

    2. you sir are the biggest tool on this site. not only are you a pittsburgh fan who trolls a philly sports blog, but you consistently come back here to argue with people that you obviously feel are intellectually and socially beneath you. that said, does that make you feel big? do you gain a sense of self-confidence with each and every argument that you win? i bet that when you leave the computer, you go and brag to your girlfriend about how you just “served” someone on this site. you know, you remind of that pony-haired dude in good will hunting that picks on ben affleck in the history debate and just like the outcome for that dude, i have no problem handing you your ass on a platter. so, like i told you before, do us all a favor and just jump already from one of those 400+ bridges in pittsburgh. loser!

      1. Wow! You TOTALLY handed me my ass on a platter! Excellent work.

      2. you almost had the ass on a platter except it was Matt Damon. C’mon SON!

    1. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, scum bag, nerd.” Says the scum bag nerd who trips over herself to respond within an hour of my post. And the laughs continue. Please play again. Next!

      1. I guess I just find it weird that you follow a sports blog of another city’s teams close enough to respond to people almost immediately. We don’t care about your little shanty town except when we play the hockey team that you idiots almost ran out of town, twice. Must be that inferiority complex people from your little village have about Philadelphia, the world class metropolis that is responsible for the founding of America, of which it was the capital for many years. They must not teach you that out there.

        You don’t think Big Ben raped anybody? Wha?

  8. Who cares about Wiley Pooper? How about more posts about players’ hot girlfriends and some pics. It’s creepier when you stalk this mongoloid but it’s not creepy at all when you stalk players’ girlfriends’ social network accounts because you bring horny men like me what they want.

  9. I wouldn’t really care if Riley Cooper blew his brains out and would probably think it was pretty funny. Dude has had his ass kissed since he was a teenager, real world consequences are a bitch ain’t they shithead? Go die alone somewhere.

  10. Disgruntled reader reads post -> Disgruntled reader complains in comment section -> Revenue goes to Kyle from reader’s hit -> Kyle continues to post -> Disgruntled reader reads post -> Disgruntled reader complai … well you get the picture.

    Some people are trapped in a vicious cycle while they can be more productive and work on not being trapped in their mom’s basement.

  11. christ, you pretentious douche, would you cut it out with the ‘we’ and ‘us’ already? this site is just you; defaulting to the newspaper style plural when you’re trying to legitimize yourself isn’t fooling anyone.

    1. Don’t forget, This TMZ Philly subsite has(had?) a fashion writer… I’m assuming for all the gay men this site pulls in? I don’t know. I know few that care “who’s wearing it better” on football Sunday.
      His ego also may have gotten large enough to refer to as another entity.

  12. I wish you someone would send you a video of Laynce Nix lighting a cross on fire. HE FUCKING SUCKS DICKS RELEASE HIM ALREADY RUBEN.

  13. Oh lord Kyle, so now your working with individuals who could be guilty of [attempted] extortion of a Philadelphia Eagle?? a) Would that potentially make you a part of some conspiracy, or maybe make you an accomplice? (As a law student, I can tell you the answer is NO, I’m just fucking with you) and b) The athletes in this town are going to hate you more and more as time goes on, to the point where you become black listed from any meaningful involvement in all things Philadelphia sports… Be careful Kyle, you dont wanna piss off these athletes, as they are your bread and butter…

      1. I agree cannot take the sports radio cooper racist talk all week & especially from liberal mike miss. Wonder how mike miss would react if his daughter brought home an African American? SMH move the fuck on

  14. WHO FUCKING CARES!!!!! Act like dudes on that team haven’t said “white boy” or some other shit. Seriously stop pitting the populous against each other. Peace, love and acceptance

  15. First time commenting. I’ve unliked your Facebook page and I won’t coming back to your website. You’re disgusting.

  16. I bet the magic man long snapper made his big tity wife stop doing any future gsd’s with th k-man.
    Bet man Susie told her dog that too

  17. If cooper is going to be targeted for his stupid words the why don’t we go after the players who make racial slurs towards white players or guy slurs towards guy players. Why don’t we ever see or hear them punished the same way. This double standard is where real racisim is in all this.

  18. Those who are suggesting that we should stop talking about Cooper using the N word. Are the people who use this word (someone who is not black) and those that are Uncle Tom (black folks that are use to their friends that aren’t black to use this word). I think it’s good that they are bringing attention to this story. So the next ignorant person (nigger) will know what comes along with racist slurs (no matter what color they are).

  19. Then why don’t we see the same outrage when these slurs are said to anyone other than black persons. Case in point how many black players have said anti gay slurs an they haven’t been throwed off there teams. Or how about the hit put on cooper that’s truely aginst the LAW! Let see him punished. It needs to stop from all sides or atleast be punished the same. Its amazing the moment someone white shows the reverse side of the issue they are labeled racisit. If you refer to anyone outside there name your wrong. An as long as the double standard is allowed your only aidding in the racial divide.

    1. “Then why don’t we see the same outrage when these slurs are said to anyone other than black persons.” What “slurs” are you refering to?

      “Case in point how many black players have said anti gay slurs an they haven’t been throwed off there teams.” Yeah, no. Being gay isn’t a race. But nice try, stupid.

      “Or how about the hit put on cooper that’s truely aginst the LAW!” What on Earth are you talking about? What “hit” are you talking about?

      Look. Stop embarrassing yourself, and just admit that you are frustrated that the advent of “Chip” and the hilariously rosy outlook you had has been circumvented by typical Philly loser-dome. It’s why the entire nation laughs at you.

      You’re welcome.

      1. Ok moron, so are you arguing that a slur made against ones race is more offensive than a slur made against ones sexuality? If you are, please defend this. I would love to hear it. And I believe the “hit” this guy was referring to was the bounty tweeted out by Marcus Vick.

  20. You tmz folks should die. I hope to cut your throats and Fuck your trachea. You people are scum and I can’t wait to cut each and every one of your heads off.

    1. Lemme guess. You’re from Delaware County?

      1. you sir are the biggest tool on this site. not only are you a pittsburgh fan who trolls a philly sports blog, but you consistently come back here to argue with people that you obviously feel are intellectually and socially beneath you. that said, does that make you feel big? do you gain a sense of self-confidence with each and every argument that you win? i bet that when you leave the computer, you go and brag to your girlfriend about how you just “served” someone on this site. you know, you remind of that pony-haired dude in good will hunting that picks on ben affleck in the history debate and just like the outcome for that dude, i have no problem handing you your ass on a platter. so, like i told you before, do us all a favor and just jump already from one of those 400+ bridges in pittsburgh. loser!

      2. Let me guess, you’re a Pittsburgh fan that was born and raised in the Philadelphia area?

  21. Your articles are shit. Find a story worth writing about and maybe you can justify blowing all that money on a journalism degree

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