VICTORIA — British Columbia Premier Christy Clark's unabashed support for the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer club is drawing heated debate on social media over her comments directed at the team's rival, the Seattle Sounders.
The Seattle Princesses are putting on quite a performance tonight. So many miraculous recoveries. #VWFC #VANvSEA
— Christy Clark (@christyclarkbc) September 20, 2015
Clark is a Whitecaps season ticket holder and at a game against Seattle on Saturday she made comments on social media about the Seattle team that some say amounts to trash talk that a premier should avoid.
@christyclarkbc I get it. You're making fun of athletes by calling them women. Like hilarious jokes about the Sedins. Very funny.
— Kyle Doyle (@fatcarl) September 20, 2015
She referred to the Sounders on her Twitter account as the Seattle Princesses in a reference to what she called the numerous miraculous injury recoveries by players who were fouled by the Whitecaps squad.
@christyclarkbc If you're trying to insult a team by calling them princesses, you're failing badly, esp. as a woman in a position of power.
— Nicole (@Nicole013) September 20, 2015
Critics immediately rebuked the premier, saying she was setting a poor leadership example by calling Seattle team members princesses.
@christyclarkbc I HATE the Sounders, however I also am raising a daughter in this province. #embarrassing
— Brandon O'Connor (@BooferOC) September 20, 2015
Clark was not immediately available to comment on her soccer tweet.
What happened to being an #antibullying champion, @christyclarkbc? This does not set a great example to young people.
— Trevor Kramer (@trevorjkramer) September 20, 2015
The first-place Whitecaps lost to Sounders 3-0 in the game.
