NFL Network’s James Palmer and Ian Rapoport are under fire for joking about Russian jail sentences.
On Thursday afternoon, WNBA star Brittney Griner was sentenced to 9 years in prison after for carrying vape pens filled with hashish oil through a Russian airport earlier this year.
Brittney Griner has been convicted and sentenced to 9 years in prison for bringing into Russia two cartridges of cannabis oil. Russia is not our friend. It is a hostile foreign adversary preying on an innocent person as a political pawn as trade bait for a prisoner exchange.
— Barb McQuade (@BarbMcQuade) August 4, 2022
During a live segment on NFL Network, Palmer revealed that he a Rapoport had joked about if they were able to survive in Russian prison. “If Ian thinks he can survive in a Russian prison, which apparently he believes, a tackle from Nathaniel Hackett is the least of his problems,” Palmer said.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport awkwardly stated that his conversation with Palmer was made off air and it’s apparent that he didn’t think his colleague would bring it up in public.
In light of Brittney Griner being sentenced to 9 years in a Russian prison this was tacky, inappropriate and insensitive by @nflnetwork @JamesPalmerTV @RapSheet @AndrewSiciliano pic.twitter.com/y8q2JMQre2
— Doc Holliday (@The_DocHolliday) August 4, 2022
Fans called out both Palmer and Rapoport for making insensitive jokes after Griner’s sentence.
Fire all three of those clowns!! Especially the big eared one! https://t.co/b81OK5uGmN
— Hugh Douglas (@Bighugh53) August 4, 2022
What was James Palmer cooking man? https://t.co/z18I8trK0z
— Payton (@paytonisnotroll) August 4, 2022
https://twitter.com/AjaBajaaaa/status/1555325207874867200
Jesus https://t.co/jMJI90nmlg
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) August 4, 2022
The NFL network has yet to release a statement regarding Palmer and Rapoport’s banter.
