A Pittsburgh Steeler football player Rashard Mendenhall filed a $1 million freedom of speech lawsuit against Hanes underwear which dropped his endorsement contract in reaction to his controversial comments on Twitter. One of the Tweets in dispute was his objection to people celebrating the death of Osama bin Laden. “What kind of person celebrates death? It’s amazing how people can HATE a man they have never even heard speak. We’ve only heard one side,” tweeted Mendenhall.
Hanes claims the tweets were a violation of an agreement preventing Mendenhall from actions that would bring him “into public disrepute, contempt scandal or ridicule, or tending to shock, insult or offend a majority of the consuming public.” -db
From a commentary in the Hollywood Reporter, July 25, 2011, by Eriq Gardner.