Cherry takes flak over seal-meat remarks
Hockey commentator blasted on Twitter after calling MacLean ‘a barbarian’
Hockey Night in Canada’s Don Cherry responded Sunday to the furor that erupted on social media after he called Ron MacLean a “savage” and “barbarian” for eating seal meat.
“Evidently I upset some people about my seal burger comments (during Saturday night’s telecast),” the popular commentator said on Twitter. “I would like to try to explain my comments. Not because I was told to or forced to. I do it because I feel I have hurt the feelings of some people I like and admire.
“I have friends who hunt deer and ducks and I myself have eaten venison and duck meat. Just the same as people who hunt seals and eat seal meat. I have no problem with my friends who are hunters and eat venison and duck. Just the same, as I have no problem, with people who hunt seals and (eat) seal meat.
“I do however find it very unusual, in my world, that a person would go into a restaurant and order a seal burger for lunch. I meant no disrespect to the hunters who hunt and eat seal meat just like I have no disrespect for the hunters who hunt deer and duck and eat their meat. Again, I do this explanation because I want to. I have hurt some people’s feelings that I like and admire. If this explanation isn’t good enough, then let the cards fall where they may.”
Cherry’s comments came during his regular Coach’s Corner segment, with MacLean appearing via satellite from St. John’s. The co-host said he’d had a seal burger for lunch in a local restaurant and Cherry, 81, reacted with what seemed to be mock outrage, saying MacLean ate a “little baby seal” before adding “what are you, a savage, a barbarian?”
Many took to Twitter after the comments calling for Cherry to apologize. “Sealing is important to Inuit culture and tradition,” Environment Minister Leona Aglukkaq posted. “Mr. Cherry’s comments last night were hurtful and insensitive. I hope he apologizes.”
Other cried for Cherry to be fired. “According to Don Cherry, my Inuk friends are savages because they eat seal,” tweeted Matthew Coon Come, former national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. “The network should fire him for his racist remark.”