University of Oregon apologizes to BYU fans for offensive chant

EUGENE, Ore. — The University of Oregon and its official student section have issued an apology for some fans using a profanity-laced chant during their home game against BYU on Saturday.

In a video originally posted by Twitter user @JohnHopkins2022 and shared by hundreds of others, a group of fans is seen and heard directing the offensive chant toward BYU fans and members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

WATCH: BYU fans, students react to offensive chant during BYU-Oregon football game

The video caught the attention of Gov. Spencer Cox, who called it "Religious bigotry" in a tweet from his personal, verified Twitter account.

Some Twitter users criticized the Utah governor, accusing him of not condemning other forms of bigotry in the same manner. Cox did not attend Brigham Young University, but he is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Later Saturday evening, the University of Oregon's student section, called the "Oregon Pit Crew," condemned the vulgar chant and apologized in a statement.

"To all [BYU] fans in attendance at todays game [sic]," the student section wrote in a tweet, "we would like to apologize for the actions of the students in attendance. We do not condone or support any hateful speech directed towards one’s religion and are ashamed of those who participated."

The university itself also issued an apologetic statement Sunday morning.

"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," its tweet read. "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."

Although there was no direct connection, others on social media brought up the recent incident in which it was alleged that a fan at a BYU home volleyball game shouted racial slurs at a Black volleyball player from Duke. BYU's investigation ended up finding no evidence to confirm that the slur was used, but as officials from the Cougars' own West Coast Conference pointed out, that does not mean the alleged use of hate speech did not happen.

Contrasting the divisive chant, a show of unity between the two opposing teams was displayed before the game. As the Cougars ran out of the locker room and onto the field, they carried a flag with the Ducks' "O" logo and the late Spencer Webb's name and football number. Webb, a tight end for Oregon, died over the summer in a rock climbing accident.