Warning: Some of the language used in this story may be offensive to some readers.
TORONTO – Leafs’ fans were at the centre of controversy on social media Monday night, after photos of a Leafs fan holding up a “Toronto Stronger” sign surfaced on Twitter.
The sign, pictured in a sea of blue and white outside of Toronto’s Air Canada Centre during game three of the Toronto and Boston playoff series, stood out due to its familiar message.
Complete with a blue and white ribbon, the sign was a direct reference to the “Boston Strong” slogan used in support of the city of Boston in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombings.
The hashtag #TorontoStronger was trending in both Toronto and Boston Monday night, but in stark contrast to the #BostonStrong hashtag that was trending just weeks ago in support of the city.
Twitter users called the incident classless and disrespectful – condemning the imitation of the Boston Strong campaign.
A search for #TorontoStronger on Twitter reveals thousands of tweets; many of which include apologetic Toronto fans stating that one fan’s sign is a misrepresentation of Toronto fandom.
Some users even took to Twitter in efforts to identify the unknown fan holding the sign. But outrage from Boston fans and citizens continued to pour in on social media Tuesday as Boston news outlets caught wind of the story.
Boston Bruins blogger (@BosBruinsFan) tweeted out a photoshopped version of the “Toronto Stronger” sign in response to the outrage that showed a picture of a bear ripping the sign in half beside a message that read, “Hey Toronto! This shit doesn’t fly here.”
However, some Toronto fans were fighting back noting that Toronto fans did not go after Boston fans after a Toronto-area resident was knocked out and concussed allegedly by a Bruins fan during Saturday night’s playoff game in Boston.
Get daily National news
Read More: Leafs fan recovering after being assaulted at Boston Bruins game
Bruins coach Claude Julien addressed the sign Tuesday afternoon, suggesting perhaps it was the misguided product of a playoff-crazy supporter.
“Last night’s sign, to me, had nothing to do with hockey,” Julien said after practice Tuesday. “Boston Strong is about something that struck our city, not our team. Maybe it’s a little sensitive for the Boston people.
“Those kind of things happen in playoffs. Unfortunately the best and sometimes the worst comes out of the passion of our game.”
The Bruins coach also referred to the assaulted Toronto fan, calling the incident unfortunate.
Global News compiled some of the reaction circulating on Twitter.
Leafs’ fans were at the center of controversy on social media Monday night, after photos of a Leafs fan holding up a “Toronto Stronger” sign surfaced on Twitter.
http://storify.com/nlynnbogart/toronto-stronger-signs-creates-outrage
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.