BYU investigation denies racial heckling allegations involving Duke volleyball player

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Brigham Young University found no evidence in its investigation of a fan’s alleged use of a racial slur against an opposing player during a women’s volleyball match against Duke. 

Key Players

Brigham Young University (BYU) is a private institution in Provo, Utah, affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  

Duke University, a private university in Durham, North Carolina, had competed against BYU. 

Rachel Richardson is an outside hitter on Duke’s volleyball team.

An unnamed male fan, a student at Utah Valley University, attended the game in the BYU student section. He was accused of using a racial slur toward Black people during the match. Not much is known about the unnamed fan, except that he claimed to be friends with four BYU players, the Deseret News reported.  

Further Details

On Aug. 26, 2022, BYU hosted Duke’s women’s volleyball team for a match that reportedly had a record attendance. During the second set, when Duke played in front of BYU’s student section, Richardson told ESPN she heard “a very strong, negative racial slur.” 

At the end of the set, Richardson told her coach she had heard the slur, and the coach informed officials and BYU staff, adding that the racist language intensified throughout the game. A BYU police officer working the match spoke with the BYU student section, where fans denied hearing the slur. Between the third and fourth sets, the officer spoke at length with the fan from the BYU side. 

After the game, a Duke assistant coach informed the officer that a fan “got in the face” of Richardson, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. The fan, who had previously spoken to the officer, denied using the slur and said he mistakenly approached Richardson thinking she was a friend from the BYU team. 

The fan was escorted off campus by the officer, who advised him not to attend the match the next day and  not to sit in the BYU student section. 

Afterward, the officer and a BYU assistant coach reviewed game footage but said they did not see the fan present when Richardson alleged she heard the slur. During the second serve, the fan reportedly looked distracted. A further investigation was planned by BYU, and the fan was banned indefinitely from BYU property. 

On Aug. 27, Richardson’s godmother complained on Twitter that Richardson “was called a n– every time [of eight] she served,” The Tribune reported. Her father also told The New York Times that he had heard the slurs. 

The next day, BYU affirmed its commitment to anti-racism. “When a student-athlete or fan comes to a BYU sporting event, we expect that they will be treated with love and respect and feel safe on our campus. It is for this reason BYU has banned a fan who was identified by Duke during Friday night’s volleyball match from all BYU athletic venues,” BYU stated. 

BYU’s head volleyball coach Heather Olmstead also apologized for the events. On Aug. 30, BYU Associate Athletic Director Jon McBride reiterated to The Tribune that the investigation was still ongoing. BYU also filed a police report because of death threats aimed at Olmstead, Deseret News reported.

On Aug. 30, BYU police announced that the fan was not responsible for the slurs. Further investigations were reportedly managed by BYU athletics. 

Outcome

BYU investigation finds no evidence

On Sept. 9, BYU athletics issued a statement that the slurs never occurred. It said BYU had reviewed “all available video and audio recordings” and received input from “Duke athletic department personnel and student-athletes, BYU athletic department personnel and student-athletes, event security and management and fans who were in the area that evening.”

“From our extensive review, we have not found any evidence to corroborate the allegation that fans engaged in racial heckling or uttered racial slurs at the event,” the statement said. The fan’s ban was thus lifted.

Responses from Duke and ESPN  

Duke’s Vice President and Director of Athletics Nina King also issued a response. 

“The 19 members of the Duke University volleyball team are exceptionally strong women who represent themselves, their families, and Duke University with the utmost integrity. We unequivocally stand with and champion them,” King stated. 

ESPN host Stephen A. Smith and co-host Marcus Spears, who both previously criticized BYU leadership, said they were still giving Richardson “the benefit of the doubt,” Deseret News reported.