Hating Harambe: NFL shop blocks gorilla nameplate on jerseys

CINCINNATI, Sept. 14 (UPI) -- In case you were wondering, you've missed your chance to honor a silverback gorilla on an authentic NFL jersey.

The NFL Shop has banned interested buyers in using the name Harambe on the nameplate of its customized jerseys. Several people noted on Twitter that the term "RIP Harambe" is still eligible. The NFL and Nike typically don't allow vulgarities or inappropriate terms on the nameplates, but this could be a first time for a gorilla ban.

Harambe was a 17-year-old western lowland gorilla shot to death in May at the Cincinnati Zoo after a child fell into his enclosure. The New Orleans Saints' Twitter account was one of several to be saddened by the news. The Saints tweeted: "Sad but true. #RIPHarambe."

The NHL's Minnesota Wild followed up that tweet by saying, "Well you can always get a #MNWild jersey...#RIPHarambe."

When asked, a spokesman from the NFL Shop told the Sporting News: "The NFL will not allow this name to printed due to the controversy surrounding Harambe the Gorilla."

The "custom shop" on the NFL Shop website has since crashed.

Since his death, Harambe hysteria has truly taken on a new meaning on the internet and even in fantasy football leagues. The University of Massachusetts Lowell River Hawks soccer team even had a "Harambe Night" Wednesday. The school handed out mine Harambes to the first 100 students in attendance and encouraged people to wear gorilla suits for a chance to win prizes.