(Molly Bruns, Headline USA) Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Ivan Povorov refused to wear a rainbow jersey for his team’s “Pride Night” because of his Russian Orthodox faith, driving the mainstream media into a near-apoplectic fit of rage.
“I respect everybody and I respect everybody’s choices,” Povorov said in a statement. “My choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.”
According to the Post Millennial, morning show hosts Sid Seixeiro and Dina Pugilese melted down on air, fuming with anger that Povorov would not celebrate something to strictly against his faith.
UPDATE: Journalists are now crying on air bc Provorov wouldn’t wear a Pride jersey pic.twitter.com/GFfCYQsRYb
— Jack Posobiec 🇺🇸 (@JackPosobiec) January 18, 2023
Seixeiro admonished Povorov for his religious convictions and recommended that the Flyers be hit with a massive fine.
“The theme from the National Hockey League is ‘hockey is for everyone’,” Seixeiro said. “The theme is not ‘hockey is for everyone … unless you don’t believe in gay rights otherwise do whatever you want.'”
Seixeiro continued, stating that no major league sports are implementing “repercussions” for players and coaches who do not comply with their virtue signaling, but the National Hockey League could be among the first to do so.
“I think we fine the Flyers a million dollars for this—I’m not kidding,” he said. “Figure this out and stop offending people on nights where its not about that; it’s supposed to be about inclusivity.”
Seixeiro argued that if a player attempted something similar on a night meant to honor the military, there would be social-media outrage.
“Nothing scares me more than any human being that says ‘I’m not doing this because of my religious beliefs,'” Seixeiro added, suggesting that, “when you look at people’s lives who normally say that publicly, you’d throw up at what you saw.”
Seixeiro continued, furiously rambling, and concluded by decrying the NHL for not being “serious” about the issue and called said he found it “insulting.”
Flyers head coach John Tortorella defended Provorov for “being true to himself” and refused to bench him in the game against the Annaheim Mighty Ducks.
Flyers head coach John Tortorella defended Provy and refused to bench him tonight:
“He’s being true to himself.”
pic.twitter.com/ZPbbKMqFi1— Greg Price (@greg_price11) January 18, 2023
NHL fans encouraged Provorov and thanked him for sticking to his religious convictions.
Amazing! Someone who holds to his values and thinks for himself. In this day of global think Ivan is very refreshing.
— Katrina Radcliff 🇺🇸🇮🇱 Imago Dei 💕c u in April (@kayrat8151) January 19, 2023
Good for him. More Christians should follow his example when they have the chance.
— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) January 18, 2023
Many of them drew a comparison to an iconic Seinfeld scene.
Turns out it was a documentary. pic.twitter.com/bHepbfTa4Y
— Avroveks ❁ (@Avroveks) January 18, 2023
