University of Arizona apologizes for offensive chants aimed at BYU basketball team

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — The University of Arizona Athletics Department is apologizing after a derogatory chant aimed at BYU players ensued at a men’s basketball game Saturday night.

BYU won a thriller over Arizona at McKale Center Saturday night. After the game, an offensive chant — “F*** the Mormons” — began among Arizona fans.

In a statement issued on social media early Sunday morning, University of Arizona Vice President and Director of Athletics Desireé Reed-Francois wrote, “Following tonight’s men’s basketball game, it was brought to our attention that an unacceptable chant occurred. On behalf of the University of Arizona Athletic Department, we apologize to BYU, their student-athletes, coaches and fans. The chant is not reflective of who we are and should not have happened.”

Other athletic programs have been scrutinized for similar incidents of religious bigotry. Providence College Athletic Director Steven Napolillo apologized for an offensive chant toward the BYU men’s basketball team in Dec. 2024.

The University of Oregon issued an apology after a Sept. 2022 incident: “The University of Oregon sincerely apologizes for an offensive and disgraceful chant coming from the student section during yesterday’s game against Brigham Young University. These types of actions go against everything the university stands for, and it goes against the spirit of competition. We can and will do better as a campus community that has no place for hate, bias or bigotry.”

The University of Southern California also issued an apology in Nov. 2021 after an offensive chant during a football game: “The offensive chant from our student section directed towards BYU during the football game last night does not align with our Trojan values. It was distasteful and we apologize to the BYU program.”

No further information is available at this time.