Candace Owens is an inflammatory right wing pundit who loves trolling Twitter. She has scores of fans on the right – especially among Trump supporters.
Megan Rapinoe is an out soccer player and Olympic gold medalist who advocates for women’s and LGBTQ rights and she also has legions of fans – on both the left and the right. As Owens found out the hard way.
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The American soccer team lost to Canada and Owens decided to mock the loss, calling Rapinoe “an anti-American piece of trash.” Rapinoe has kneeled before games as the national anthem is played in solidarity with players throughout sports demanding racial justice.
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The national anthem is not played before an Olympic sporting event, but that didn’t stop Owens from spouting off. Responding to a tweet from U.S. Soccer’s Women’s National Team that called the loss “heartbreaking but hard-fought,” Owens replied that it was “not heartbreaking at all.”
She added that Rapinoe “does not represent our country, anywhere, ever. Any person who disrespects the the [sic] flag that sons and daughters are sent home beneath while fighting for our freedoms overseas, deserves to lose.”
“Repeatedly.”
Rapinoe, who won a gold medal in the 2016 Olympics, is among the most popular women athletes in the nation and her fans run the gamut of political persuasions. Liberal fans quickly shot back, mocking Owens faux outrage. But conservatives quickly called her out for attacking an Olympic athlete and abandoning patriotism.
And then the veterans stepped in. Then international soccer fans piled on.
“Oh god,” Roger Yang replied. “She won two world cups and a Olympic gold medal for your country. What have you done?”
“You do know there are no anthems played at the beginning of games at the Olympics right? The kneeling has nothing to do with your flag or anyone else’s,” Heather Simpkin tweeted. “The whole Canadian team knelt too. What are you on about?”
“Combat vet here,” another user added. “I dont agree with the message nor the points said message is based on, but that’s how freedom of speech do @RealCandaceO. Dont matter if I like it, they’ve a right to say it.”
Not heartbreaking at all. @mPinoe is an anti-American piece of trash who does not represent our country, anywhere, ever.
Any person who disrespects the the flag that sons and daughters are sent home beneath while fighting for our freedoms overseas, deserves to lose.
Repeatedly. https://t.co/uSIrSLdnzt— Candace Owens (@RealCandaceO) August 3, 2021
Oh god. She won two world cups and a Olympic gold medal for your country. What have you done?
— Roger Yang 🧢 (@RogerYYH) August 3, 2021
You do know there are no anthems played at the beginning of games at the Olympics right? The kneeling has nothing to do with your flag or anyone else’s 🤷♀️ The whole Canadian team knelt too. What are you on about?
— Heather Simpkin (@SimpkinHeather) August 3, 2021
Combat vet here: I dont agree with the message nor the points said message is based on, but that's how freedom of speech do @RealCandaceO . Dont matter if I like it, they've a right to say it.
— ObviousLee (@ObviousLee6) August 3, 2021
Candace rooting for the US to lose and cheering their loss is considered patriotic to her? pic.twitter.com/64WU0yMW2Y
— elidet🔭🔬👩🔬 (@elidet) August 3, 2021
Agree with the idea but don’t think we should be calling other humans trash Candace.
— Vince Moore (@VinceMoore3) August 3, 2021
If only she’d dressed like this! pic.twitter.com/Hr6TtEBXXn
— Michelle Moustakas (@MichelleMousta1) August 3, 2021
DO NOT SPEAK FOR ME OR MY MILITARY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!
We SERVE to protect the Constitution and EVERYONE'S rights to freedom of speech! That INCLUDES protesting the flag!
I've had sisters/brothers die for that freedom!
DON'T SPEAK FOR US, THE MILITARY DOESNT BELIEVE THIS!
— Lib Lady Army Veteran😷🌊🇺🇸 (@Individual1isa1) August 3, 2021
Kneeling is a sign of respect for the flag by protesting against our failures to uphold its values. Respect & gratitude to our living and fallen troops. Kneeling says we should do a better job of respecting their sacrifices by fixing the ways our city/st/fed governments hurt us.
— wlro wkwoqp (@wkwoqp) August 3, 2021
Now do this.#NeverForgetJanuary6th pic.twitter.com/eN8bjiHBas
— brigitte jay (@jaybrigitte) August 3, 2021