Chicago Cubs Chairman Responds After 'Racially Insensitive' Emails Leak
Chicago Cubs Chairman Tom Ricketts is distancing himself and the team from what he called “racially insensitive” emails written or forwarded by his father, Joe Ricketts.
The elder Ricketts’ emails were leaked and published Monday by the liberal political website Splinter News.
“We are aware of the racially insensitive emails in my father’s account that were published by an online media outlet,” Tom Ricketts said in a statement provided to the Chicago Sun-Times and others.
“Let me be clear: The language and views expressed in those emails have no place in our society,” he said.
The Cubs chairman pointed out that his father has no connection whatsoever to the team.
“My father is not involved with the operation of the Chicago Cubs in any way. I am trusted with representing this organization and our fans with a respect for people from all backgrounds,” he said. “These emails do not reflect the culture we’ve worked so hard to build at the Chicago Cubs since 2009.”
Joe Ricketts, 77, is the founder and former CEO of TD Ameritrade. Splinter News obtained and published emails from him over the years, many of which contained racially insensitive content, anti-Muslim rants and conspiracy theories.
Some of them were forwarded emails that Joe Ricketts commented on, passed along and did not condemn.
One was an email he forwarded to his son, Pete Ricketts, the governor of Nebraska, who admonished his father for sending him an email chain titled “Americans believe in religious freedom — Muslims don’t.”
Pete Ricketts told his father he should research such articles before forwarding them.
To that, Joe Ricketts replied: “Thanks Peter. However, I think Islam is a cult and not a religion. Christianity and Judaism are … based on love whereas Islam is based on ‘kill the infidel’ a thing of evil.”
The elder Ricketts issued an apology on his personal website.
“I deeply regret and apologize for some of the exchanges I had in my emails,” he said. “Sometimes I received emails that I should have condemned. Other times I’ve said things that don’t reflect my value system.
“I strongly believe that bigoted ideas are wrong.”
Major League Baseball also released a statement on the matter, the Chicago Tribune reported.
“We are aware of the email exchanges involving Joe Ricketts,” MLB said. “While many of the emails were not written by Mr. Ricketts, the content is extremely offensive and completely at odds with the values and principles of Major League Baseball. Providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for everyone is extremely important for MLB and our 30 clubs.”
Dennis Culloton, spokesman for the Ricketts family, told USA Today that Tom Ricketts and Julian Green, the Cubs’ vice president of communications and community affairs, have reached out to the Muslim leaders in the community.
“We hope there will be a meeting or meetings,” Culloton said.
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