*A recent football game between Alabama State University and Florida A&M University (FAMU) at Bragg Memorial Stadium was marred by a controversial remark targeting Alabama State’s Honey Beez, a celebrated plus-sized dance team.
During the halftime show, as the Honey Beez exited the field after performing with the Mighty Marching Hornets, FAMU band announcer Joe Bullard referred to them as “the new face of Ozempic.” The comment, met with immediate shock and disgust from the crowd, sparked widespread outrage across social media and the HBCU community.
Alabama State University President Dr. Quinton T. Ross Jr. swiftly condemned the remark in a statement shared on Instagram, calling it “short-sighted” and “demeaning.”
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“While we recognize the spirit of competition, there is no place for disparaging or demeaning remarks directed at our scholars,” Ross wrote.
The Honey Beez embody Alabama State’s pride, as Ross highlighted. “Please know that you are celebrated, valued, and admired for the joy you bring to the Hornet Nation, and for the bold and fearless way you represent the very best of ASU,” he wrote, praising their dedication to crafting “unforgettable” and “show-stopping” shows.
In response, FAMU President Marva Johnson issued a formal apology, calling the announcer’s remark “inappropriate and offensive.” She stated, “On behalf of Florida A&M University, I extend my deepest and sincerest apologies to the Honey Beez, the Mighty Marching Hornets, President Quinton Ross, and the entire Alabama State University community.”
Johnson praised the Honey Beez as a team that “represents discipline, school pride, and performance tradition respected across the nation” and committed to taking “immediate steps to ensure accountability within our organization and to prevent incidents like this in the future.”
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