11 July 2014
Last updated at 10:23
The photo showing Chris Henry (left) and Paddy Jackson (centre) was posted to Jackson’s Twitter profile
Ulster Rugby have apologised after a photograph showing two of their players with their faces and bodies coloured with black makeup appeared on a social media site.
The photo was posted on the Twitter profile of Irish international Paddy Jackson.
It shows him, fellow Irish international Chris Henry and three other men who have yet to be identified.
The photo has now been removed.
Paddy Jackson and Chris Henry were both members of the Ireland squad that won this year’s Six Nations Championship.
Ulster Rugby said they “apologise unreservedly for any offence”.
In a statement, the club said the photograph showed the players at an “Olympic-themed fancy dress party held two years ago”.
“It was not the intention of the players to cause upset and the photograph has since been removed.”
Paddy Jackson made the photo his profile picture on Twitter recently
It is believed the men were dressed as members of the Ethiopian Olympic team.
It is not known how long the photograph was online.
Paddy Jackson made it his profile picture on Twitter recently.
Chris Henry posted a similar picture to his Twitter feed on 16 May.
Joseph Ricketts, from ACSONI (African and Caribbean Support Organisation Northern Ireland), told Good Morning Ulster that the photo was “deeply offensive”.
A similar photo was posted on Chris Henry’s Twitter feed in May
“I am shocked and appalled by this irresponsible behaviour,” he said.
“It’s worse than bad taste. One of the characters was seen with a chain around the neck, which mimics the most awful period in history for black people.
“It’s nasty and people who have seen it are very appalled by it.”
He added: “Whether they were trying to justify it as good craic, or something, people are offended by it and as public figures, which they are, they need to be more responsible in the way they behave.”
Article source: http://edinburgh.stv.tv/118952/
Ulster Rugby apologise for Paddy Jackson and Chris Henry "Ethiopian" photo
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