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NHL Toronto Maple Leafs

Social Media Attacks Against Players’ Families Is Wrong

By @LissaRantSports

James Reimer, Toronto Maple Leafs

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We’ve seen it before: social media emboldens users to say things they wouldn’t say in person. The relative anonymity of social media allows users to launch ugly attacks against just about anyone with whom they disagree. We’ve seen racism from social media sports “fans” — just think of the nauseating headlines from the second round of playoffs in May, when Montreal Canadiens‘ P.K. Subban was the target of racist tweets.

We’ve seen such attacks regularly, and new targets include the families of NHL players: most recently, April Reimer, the wife of Toronto Maple Leafs‘ goaltender James Reimer. The incidents sicken me; they are wrong and contemptible.

Last season, it happened in March. It came after the Leafs lost 4-3 to the Canadiens, and Reimer was in nets. Now, 4-3 is not a terrible loss, but the Leafs had been beleaguered and Reimer bore the brunt of it. Following the loss, on Twitter, April Reimer was the target of hideous insults aimed at both her and her husband, many of which had violent or lewd overtones.

Although some on Twitter called out the attackers for inappropriate and classless behavior, the attacks not only continued, but worsened after Reimer was pulled from nets the following night as his team was losing to the New Jersey Devils.

That night, April Reimer took to Twitter.  Her response resulted in 1000 retweets: “Don’t mistake my silence for ignorance, my calmness for acceptance or my kindness as weakness #goaliewifeproblems”. She continued with: “Thankfully the voices of many drown out the voices of a few. Thank you if you wrote me a kind tweet :)”

Fast forward to last night. Toronto lost badly, in a 6-2 trouncing by the Buffalo Sabres. Reimer was in nets for the Leafs and much of the blame for the loss fell on him. However, once again, despite the rather universal outpouring of support for April last season and the widespread criticism of her attackers, her Twitter account became a stomping ground for anonymous Internet trolls whose abuse I will not repeat.

When social media became more of a way of life, and celebrities from all walks of fame joined up, it was the closing of a long-standing gap between “stars” and fans. Suddenly, admirers, fans and groupies had a way to express their feelings to those whom they followed. Some social media accounts are run by hired hands, but many — especially on Twitter — are actually updated by the account owner. Such is the case with the pro athletes I’ve researched.

It’s truly a privilege for fans to be able to directly interact with celebrities. It’s fun when athletes tweet back, or answer a “please retweet” request by doing just so. They may just be hitting a button and moving on within seconds, but to the fan, that retweet can be thrilling — especially if that fan is a child or young adult.

But that privilege also comes with responsibilities, as does all social media interaction. And when the wife of a player who is clearly battling his own performance demons is the target of repulsive, abusive and even frightening attacks, it makes me wonder just when the professional athletes will either close their accounts or ask their spouses to close theirs.

I can understand a fan’s frustration with a player whom they hold responsible for a loss. I can understand the frustration of Toronto fans who have consistently seen their team fall short of the prize at the end of the season, year after year, for the past four-and-a-half decades. But there is never an excuse to attack someone, or that person’s wife, with the kind of vitriol April Reimer and her husband regularly endure. The absurdity of blaming a wife for her husband’s performance is just one half of the equation. The maliciousness is the other.

I respect the Reimers for keeping their Twitter accounts open. I respect them for recognizing that there are true fans who are not represented by those who attack April. I respect them for standing up with dignity and class against the trolls, and not dignifying them or giving in to their hateful behavior.

I do hope this will be the last of it. As a realist who knows the world of social media, though, I fear it is not.

Lissa Albert is a Montreal Canadiens writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow her on Twitter @LissaRantSports. “Like” her on Facebook and/or add her to your network on Google. 

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