It seems an increasing number of Canadians are turning on Wayne Gretzky under the notion that he has, in many ways, turned on us by remaining cozy with tariff-wielding Donald Trump.
Ever since being spotted sporting a MAGA hat while attending the U.S. President’s election party in the fall, the former hockey player and national icon has been losing favour left, right and, yes, centre.
Fans are now symbolically disposing of their Gretzky memorabilia and, most recently, boycotting the star’s line of wines in various small ways.
One hilarious miscreant swapped the labels for all Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery & Distillery products at their local Toronto LCBO, deeming the brand’s varieties “sad & two-faced” and “weak & backstabbery” via rewritten taste profiles. (The retailer denied it ever happened, for the record, despite photo evidence.)
Now, another resident apparently disappointed by Gretzky’s social ties to a politician intent on harming Canada’s economy, reputation and sovereignty has made their feelings similarly known by targeting the athlete’s vino.
A bystander shared a photo of the defaced image of “The Great One,” as he was once known among fans, to the Toronto subreddit on Tuesday.
The Queens Quay location of retail chain The Wine Shop is unfortunate enough to have a large banner of Gretzky holding a glass of his own wine on its street-facing windows, which, given current events, was defaced this week.
Someone was apparently inspired to go all out on the player and vintner’s face with a Sharpie, writing “f*** Gretsky” [sic], “fight back,” and “fascist.” His teeth were also adorned with dollar signs, and symbols of hate were drawn onto his face.
Staff at the store told us that the graffiti has since been removed, also noting that though they haven’t been keeping track of sales of number 99’s wines in particular, they could see how they are “probably” on the decline lately.
Though Gretzky has been heartbroken that people doubt his loyalty to Canada — even Trump says his pal is a “fantastic guy” who “loves and supports” the Great White North — the vast majority of those commenting on the Reddit post sharing this latest vandalized image of him seem to be in agreeance that he is somewhat of a traitor to our home and native land.
As one wrote, in regard to tariffs on Canadian goods and annexation threats, “Most beloved Canadians have been pretty quiet, and I think we should start calling them on their silence. It’s a form of turning their back on us.”
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