Amid backlash over a vile incident at a playoff game, Eagles fan's former employers defend DEI-focused company.

The Green Bay Packers fans' incident with a Philadelphia Eagles fan over the weekend prompted some of the man's former employers to speak out against the reaction they received.

Lawrence Hibbert and Dr. Randal Pinkett, the co-founders of BCT Partners in New Jersey, defended their company in an interview with TMZ Sports, addressing negative social media posts and reviews left online following an incident.

The comments made about our company are just as vile or even more so than those made about Ryan Caldwell, and that's the issue, right?" Pinkett stated. "The problem with our culture is that there's no space for forgiveness. It's either you're accepted or you're canceled.

"We believe that there is a way to recover from mistakes, learn, and grow. We believe that Mr. Caldwell can learn and grow, but we also believe that our society can learn and grow. We can criticize behavior without condemning the individual."

Given that the company is in the process of celebrating an important milestone, Hibbert lamented the last few days.

"Hibbert stated that the past 24-48 hours have been challenging, but the company is celebrating its 25th anniversary. He added that social media posts and national media questioning the company's integrity and work methods have caused pain. However, Hibbert emphasized that the company stands by its track record and values, and wants to use this opportunity to reaffirm its commitment to operating on its value system, even during difficult times."

On Tuesday, the company announced that they had parted ways with Ryan Caldwell, who was identified from a video by Pinkett.

He expressed his dismay at observing such abhorrent behavior from someone associated with their company and how upset he was.

A female Packers fan was verbally abused by Caldwell, who used derogatory language and repeatedly called her a "dumb c---" and a "c---."

Caldwell released a statement to Planet Chronicle Digital on Wednesday.

During the NFL game on Sunday, while supporting my beloved Philadelphia Eagles, an unfortunate incident occurred. A disagreement with two Packers fans sitting near me escalated, and I made unacceptable remarks. In the heat of the moment, I used harsh words to confront one of the fans.

I apologize to Ms. Keller and to my wife, family, and friends, my former employer and colleagues, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the City of Philadelphia, and all who were offended. While I understand the gravity of my words, it's important to remember that there are always two sides to every story.

"The video clip online does not accurately depict the entire context of what happened, and my actions were not without reason. I will carry the weight of this experience and am paying a personal toll. For those who do not know me, this incident does not reflect my beliefs or the respect I hold for others, and it does not represent the person I truly am."

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