Professional ice hockey team the Pittsburgh Penguins was hit with criticism over a social media post featuring a photo that was reportedly doctored to show all attendees of a game wearing face masks.
“… three people in that picture have their masks photoshopped on,” one Twitter user said, accompanied by a Getty photo showing some people not wearing masks or wearing them incorrectly.
… three people in that picture have their masks photoshopped on https://t.co/WL961w1bwQ pic.twitter.com/pzMGeGHLG7
— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) March 4, 2021
The comment was in response to a post from the Penguins’ official Twitter account, which showed all people in the same photo wearing masks correctly. Mask mandates and limited stadium capacity are in effect in the stadium.
“We just had to say this again…Thanks for the continued support, Penguins fans. We can’t wait to see you tomorrow night,” the tweet, sent Wednesday, stated.
We just had to say this again…
Thanks for the continued support, Penguins fans.
We can’t wait to see you tomorrow night. pic.twitter.com/f3KGjhHWR0
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) March 4, 2021
Others also took issue with the doctored image, with some saying stadium management should focus on enforcing mask rules instead of Photoshop.
How about instead of photoshopping masks onto the photos of fans, you better enforce the mask policy at your live events? https://t.co/R2UUYmtTY4
— Jessibelle Garcia (@jessibelle_g) March 7, 2021
Haha oh man they can’t get fans to wear masks properly so they edited the photo. Fans shouldn’t be in arenas https://t.co/zyUKUHsfG5
— Mark (@Dominion_Prime) March 5, 2021
We’re just gonna let the Penguins get away with photoshopping masks onto fans, huh
— Josh (@GoldAndOrSmith) March 4, 2021
Penguins caught photoshopping over fans not wearing their masks properly……not a great look https://t.co/89ElxDPPck
— Parker Fish (@parker_fish) March 5, 2021
The team issued a statement on the controversy, saying a staffer should not have doctored the image.
“While perhaps well intended, our staffer should not have altered a wide crowd photo to adjust masks on faces of even a few fans who were not strictly following the rules. Our social media team should never send out altered photos to our fan base. This is a violation of our social media and safety policy, and this staffer has been disciplined,” the team said in a statement.
The tweet of the doctored photo is still live on the Penguins’ Twitter account as of Sunday morning. The team did not immediately return the Washington Examiner’s requests for comment.
Twitter said the tweet will not labeled as it is not in violation of the company’s rules.
