GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) -- Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre was duped into recording a message in support of an anti-Semitic group in a video.
In a statement posted on his public Facebook page, Favre wrote that he was approached by what appeared to be a group that supported US Veterans, and he assumed the group was targeting him because of his previous work in matching service dogs to Veterans suffering from PTSD.
The request came from the app "Cameo," which allows celebrities such as athletes or actors to be compensated to record short videos supporting non-profit causes. Favre reportedly receives $500 for each video he records.
Shortly after recording the shout-out it was revealed that the message was not intended to support a Veteran's group, but instead featured coded language showing support for a white supremacist group called YouTubers.
After discovering the meaning of the message the video was removed by Cameo, who released a statement calling the incident a blatant misuse of their platform and a violation of its terms of service. Officials at Cameo called it the first such violation they've encountered in over 93,000 recordings and went on to say that they have banned the group from purchasing any further videos.
Favre announced that he would donate the $500 he received for making the video to a group that fights hatred. In a statement, he said it sickens him that he was duped into becoming part of what he called today's negative political climate. "The Cameo request from this organization is a prime example of how these groups are misusing social media to promote their agenda. I thought I was creating a message to support the brave men and women of our military forces. Had I understood the source of the request, I never would have fulfilled it. All of us – myself included – need to be vigilant to protect this country from these dangers."
He adds that if anyone thinks he supports the groups cause they are wrong. "Nothing could be further from the truth."
Favre said he has recorded more than 50 other messages through Cameo without incident.
Comments