This ad featuring Kansas City Chiefs Brandon Flowers and Eric Berry (and a handful of porn actresses) caused quite a stir on Wednesday afternoon. The party flier is old -- it's from May 20 party at Club Play in Miami -- and advertises several NFL players as hosts along with porn actresses appearing at the "official after-party for Exxxotica," a three-day, adult-entertainment expo.
The ad caused a bit of acrimony for Berry and Flowers, who both released
statements saying they didn't authorize the club to use their
likenesses. Berry's denial was more believable than Flowers' given that Berry was in the KC metro at the time of the party, and Flowers was promoting the party on his Twitter page (according to the Star).
Berry released this statement (h/t: Arrowhead Pride):
Flowers told Pro Football Talk (via Arrowhead Pride) that he didn't authorize his name and likeness to be used to promote the party:In an effort to leave no doubt about my involvement, I did not attend this party. I wasn't even in Miami on May 20th. I did not have knowledge of, or consent to my name or image being used to promote any party involving porn stars. I'm upset that somehow my name has been attached to this, and am currently considering legal action against the club and event promoters. I also support any legal action the NFL is considering.
On May 20th, I was actually in Kansas City promoting a book signing with my friend and mentor Inky Johnson and raising funds for my foundation. Let's end this lockout and play football. Go Chiefs!
"It was brought to my attention that the promoters at this club were
planning to utilize my name and likeness," Flowers said in the
statement. "I immediately contacted the appropriate parties at the club
and told them they had no authority to use my name or likeness and they
should remove me from any promotional materials.
"I will pursue any remedies I may possess against the parties responsible for the unauthorized use of my name and likeness. I would like to let the Kansas City Chiefs organization, my teammates, our fans, my family and friends know that I would never associate my name and likeness with the type of party held on that day."
But Flowers did reportedly Tweet that he'd be at the party.
Also, notice that former Kansas State running back Daniel Thomas' name is listed as an attendee. Thomas denied attending the party to the Star, saying he was in Los Angeles on May 20.
"I had no knowledge of the event and did not authorize the use of my
name for this party and will pursue all remedies available to me to
protect the use of my name," Thomas told the Star. "I am a man of high
ideals and am deeply saddened by what has occurred."
Now the NFL is investigating whether the flier constitutes trademark infringement since the players appear in-uniform.
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