Raheem Sterling, who plays soccer for Manchester City, lit up the front page of The Sun with a photo of a semiautomatic rifle tattooed on his leg. “Ace’s sick new tattoo,” it read, as well as “GUN TAT FURY.” (Oh, and don’t miss “Kylie Nude at 50” while perusing this gem of serious journalism.)
Tomorrow's front page: Raheem Sterling has triggered the fury of anti-gun campaginers by unveiling his new tattoo of an M16 assault rifle. pic.twitter.com/LdHfi6j3em
— The Sun (@TheSun) May 28, 2018
Former footballer and current sportscaster Gary Lineker wasn’t buying into the outrage.
It’s weird. Leave him alone ffs. https://t.co/USEAl1o4F9
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 28, 2018
He shoots with his right foot. Makes sense to me ??♂️
— Biz (@LethalBizzle) May 28, 2018
Unique to this country to attempt to destroy our players morale before a major tournament. It’s weird, unpatriotic and sad. https://t.co/vCfVTm9w0r
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 28, 2018
Even The Guardian took direct aim at The Sun, calling its story “vicious tabloid snobbery.”
Anti-gun advocates have described the tattoo as “totally unacceptable” and “sickening”. The founder of Mothers Against Guns, Lucy Cope, said: “This tattoo is disgusting. Raheem should hang his head in shame.” With the World Cup barely a couple of weeks away, there have been calls for him to be dropped from the England squad unless he has the tattoo removed, covered, or his leg chopped off. So far, so familiar.
And here’s where Piers “Musket” Morgan comes in, arguing for common sense tattoo control.
So you think it’s perfectly OK for an England football star to tattoo a large assault rifle onto his leg just before a World Cup, where it will be seen by billions of people? I find THAT pretty weird & sad, regardless of his explanation. https://t.co/iDH7vIyHaw
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 29, 2018
What next? Ban films with guns? The Arsenal badge? It’s his business what kind of art he has tattooed on his body. https://t.co/T6cnZxiZML
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
So if an England footballer had a swastika tattoo or a KKK slogan inked on his arm, that would be purely his business too? Assault rifles kill a lot of people & I think Raheem could have made whatever point he’s making without doing this. https://t.co/oRJGS9pjm2
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 29, 2018
What now? A swastika tattoo or a KKK slogan? It’s a gun.
Whataboutery nonsense. To compare a picture of a gun with KKK or a swastika is frankly ridiculous. https://t.co/7Q88OuKp9n
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
Dear god https://t.co/kcKCyMwrKz
— Marcus (@marcusjdl) May 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/notwokieleaks/status/1001557502113218561
What a swastika and a KKK slogan represents are completely different to a personal tattoo. Or am I moving mad ?? https://t.co/i8eIuuvmCc
— YouGotMeRedHanded (@ngibbz97) May 29, 2018
Utterly shameful comparison and a desperate hunt for coverage. Shame on you. https://t.co/QO7BqHv5xi
— Kay Jay Jones (@Kazzacus) May 29, 2018
What an absolutely awful comparison https://t.co/1YVr5mwXrr
— SAMSKELTON (@Sam_Skelton17) May 29, 2018
I mean, this comparison is bonkers https://t.co/JpACmca9UB
— Lew (@Lewbob91) May 29, 2018
Man compared a gun tattoo with the KKK and swastika… i am finished. https://t.co/iMHJ6edBGw
— SLSLSL (@MesutOzilSZN) May 29, 2018
For someone who claims to hate PC culture, @piersmorgan is acting like a massive snowflake. Imagine conflating a tattoo of a gun with a tattoo of a swastika ?♂️ https://t.co/4b5VRgfd94
— Joseph Gellman (@joseph_gellman) May 29, 2018
Utterly ridiculous comparison. What’s Symbol of Nazism tattoo got to do with a gun tattoo? Where’s the correlation? You’re overdoing it mate have a day off Twitter you’re digging a hole https://t.co/oc1QatJb6Y
— ⚒Cess⚒ (@YouLoveCess) May 29, 2018
Cars kill a lot of people too, would you be up in arms if someone had a tattoo of a car on their leg? It’s about context you absolute nipple-head. https://t.co/W7qOZFGfxF
— Ryan Corless (@RCorless33) May 29, 2018
Just when you felt that generational alterophobia was starting to creep out of British society, this tosser starts trying to dictate what images can and cannot be displayed on someone’s body using the WORST logic I’ve ever seen deployed https://t.co/Seg7g2SBYd
— Jake (@EggSixteen) May 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/pingpongchow/status/1001473768525574144
The club you support literally has a cannon on their badge https://t.co/BNvjzF9cDD
— crossy ? (@crossy72_) May 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/Smogonthetees/status/1001492837869989888
The funniest part about Piers Morgan is that he's always so convinced that he's making a great point. https://t.co/RGjfT9yf5S
— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) May 29, 2018
Bore off it’s literally a picture on his leg no one gives a toss https://t.co/ArB63eLNVt
— Jake (@JakeBassRogers) May 29, 2018
I like Raheem Sterling. Talented, determined footballer, role model for a lot of kids, a great success story. A gun tattoo doesn’t look like his greatest idea ever (and yes I read his Instagram post, which was very sad), but who actually cares? It’s a tattoo. Give him a break FFS
— Oliver Kay (@OliverKayTimes) May 28, 2018
Related:
Shocker! Piers Morgan slams Trump for putting 'thoughts & prayers' before gun control https://t.co/VWfNRhEJ7Y
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) May 18, 2018