Boston Bruins Star Issues Public Apology Over Controversial Olympic Moment
Boston Bruins defenseman Charlie McAvoy has publicly expressed remorse for his reaction to a sexist joke made by former President Donald Trump during a congratulatory call with the United States men's hockey team. The incident occurred after the team secured their first gold medal at the Winter Olympics in 46 years, sparking widespread criticism across social media platforms.
Viral Video Captures Awkward Moment
In footage that quickly went viral online, McAvoy and several other members of the championship squad could be seen laughing as Trump joked about bringing both the men's and women's teams to his State of the Union address. The president quipped that he risked being "impeached" if he didn't include the women's team, who had also won gold at the Games.
The video generated immediate backlash, with many viewers condemning the players' response to what was widely perceived as a demeaning comment about their female counterparts. In the aftermath, the U.S. women's hockey team formally declined Trump's invitation, citing scheduling conflicts with academic and professional commitments.
McAvoy's Regret and Explanation
Speaking to CBS News and other media outlets on Thursday, McAvoy offered a sincere apology for his behavior during the controversial exchange. "[I'm] just certainly sorry for how we responded to it in that moment," the defenseman stated. "You know things that just happened really quick there."
McAvoy emphasized that the reaction did not reflect the team's genuine respect for the women's squad, highlighting their strong relationships and mutual support throughout the Olympic journey. "If you know the men's team and if you know the relationships that we have, the amount of time that we've spent with the women's team and how we've supported them, it's certainly not reflective of how we feel and look at them and their accomplishments," he explained.
Teammate Echoes Apology
Ottawa Senators defenseman Jake Sanderson, another member of Team USA, joined McAvoy in expressing regret over the incident. Sanderson described the team's actions as "a mistake" while suggesting that "things got blown out of proportion."
"We have nothing but the utmost respect for the women," Sanderson affirmed, recalling the pride he felt watching their victory. "If we were to do it again, I think we wouldn't do that, and we made a mistake."
Praise for Women's Team Achievements
McAvoy went on to praise the women's team for their "unbelievable" Olympic performance, underscoring the mutual admiration between the squads. "We supported them the same way that they supported us," he noted. "We share this together, I know that, and I'm pretty confident they know how I feel about them."
Controversy Extends Beyond the Laughter
The incident has raised questions about whether the apologies will fully restore the goodwill initially enjoyed by the men's team. Adding to the controversy, during his State of the Union address, Trump announced that Team USA men's goalie Connor Hellebuyck would receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom, while women's goalie Aerin Frankel did not receive the same honor.
This disparity has further fueled discussions about gender equality in sports recognition, leaving many to wonder if the men's team's apologies will be sufficient to mend the public relations damage caused by the viral moment.
