WINNIPEG — The name of dedicated Winnipeg Jets fan, Kroppy, is being used online to fuel hate speech.
Len Kropioski was always famously known as “Kroppy” by Winnipegers. He was a dedicated Winnipeg Jets fan; a Canadian military veteran who attended every game, saluting the flag as the lyrics of ‘Oh Canada’ was sung before every game.
After dying in September, someone used his name to create an online profile to anonymously target people on Twitter.
Jets fans who remember Kroppy said they can’t believe this is what the world has come to.
“It actually makes me pretty sad because Kroppy was a pretty inspirational guy,” said Berni Bargen.
The account has been used to tweet out racial slurs towards indigenous people, to agree with the alleged actions of Donald Trump, to make sexist remarks and to bully other users.
Former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Troy Westwood became one of the targets earlier this month.
Westwood said it’s a disgrace to see Kroppy’s name being used for evil. But, he admitted there is as much ugly in this world as there is good. So, it in a sense doesn’t quite surprise him that someone is going online to do this.
“You can’t get anything more insulting, right? This individual is called a keyboard cowboy, trolls, however you want to call them,” said Westwood.
This was just one of many examples that has left experts saying it’s an unfortunate but sad reality of the online era we live in.
Susie Erjavec Parker is the Owner of Sparker Strategy Group and agreed with Westwood’s words,calling the online world “a bit of a wild west.”
“These people who do these kinds of things, they get off on that kind of negativity they put out there,” said Erjavec Parker.
Anonymous accounts have given free reign to just about anyone to create a social media account under anyone’s name.
“Twitter is notoriously famous for not shutting down accounts that can be deemed offensive or dangerous,” said Erjavec Parker.
Many Winnipegers have come out saying this is an embarrassment for the city.
“As a Winnipeger I took it personally when Macleans [Magazine] said we were the racist capital of the world. And then you see something like this and then you think, man how could they not say that,” said long time Jets fan and born and bred Winnipeger Berni Bargen.
Kroppy’s family was made aware of the account but declined to comment at this time.
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