Sportsnet, Ron MacLean apologize for Don Cherry's 'discriminatory' remarks
Hockey Night personality complained about new Toronto citizens not wearing poppies
This story has been updated. On Monday, Sportsnet announced it had cut ties with Don Cherry after he made "divisive remarks."
Sportsnet, as well as Hockey Night in Canada host Ron MacLean, both apologized Sunday after commentator Don Cherry complained on national television on Saturday that he rarely sees people he believes are immigrants wearing poppies ahead of Remembrance Day.
Sportsnet president Bart Yabsley says Cherry's comments are offensive and discriminatory.
Statement from Sportsnet: <a href="https://t.co/QZ76r9Y7sb">pic.twitter.com/QZ76r9Y7sb</a>
—@SportsnetPRYabsley says the network has spoken to Cherry about the severity of his comments.
The 85-year-old Hockey Night in Canada personality made the remarks during his weekly Coach's Corner segment, singled out new immigrants in Toronto and Mississauga, Ont., where he lives, for not honouring Canada's veterans and dead soldiers.
WATCH | Don Cherry in hot water over comments on Coach's Corner:
MacLean, Cherry's long-time co-host on Coach's Corner, addressed the comments during an opening statement on Rogers Home Town Hockey
WATCH | Ron MacLean addresses Don Cherry's 'hurtful' remarks:
"Don Cherry made remarks which were hurtful, discriminatory and flat-out wrong.... I sincerely apologize and I wanted to thank you [the audience] for calling me and Don out on that last night."
MacLean also offered an apology on Twitter.
I have worked with Don for 30 years, and we both love hockey. But last night, I know we failed you. I see hockey as part of what unites us. I have the honour of travelling across our country to celebrate Canada's game, and our diversity is one of our country's greatest strengths.
—@RonMacLeanHTHCherry's comments prompted a swift online backlash on Saturday night, with many calling for his firing.
The NHL weighed in a day later.
Statement from the National Hockey League regarding Don Cherry’s comments Saturday night: <a href="https://t.co/zt57sLy5Fa">pic.twitter.com/zt57sLy5Fa</a>
—@PR_NHLCherry did not respond to multiple phone calls seeking comment.
Attention <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachsCornerDC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachsCornerDC</a>, Don Cherry. (Photo:<a href="https://twitter.com/HkyNightPunjabi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@HkyNightPunjabi</a>) <a href="https://t.co/y9fTDPjtIQ">pic.twitter.com/y9fTDPjtIQ</a>
—@SimonDingleyCBCThe show is still broadcast on CBC in a sub-licencing deal with Rogers Media, which owns Sportsnet. But the show is run by Sportsnet and filmed in its studio in the CBC building in Toronto.
WATCH | 'The National' examines Cherry's remarks:
"As Rogers Media is the national rights holder for NHL Hockey in Canada, CBC has no purview over any editorial [choice of commentators or what they say] with respect to Hockey Night in Canada," CBC spokesperson Chuck Thompson said in an email.
'There is no "you people,"' NDP Leader says
Among the online responses was from federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh.
"There is no 'you people,'" Singh tweeted after posting a photograph of his great-grandfather, who he said served under the British in both the First and Second World Wars. "We're all as Canadian as the next. We honour all who served."
Don, let me introduce you to “<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/youpeople?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#youpeople</a>”<br><br>My great grandfather, Hira Singh, who served in WW1 & WW2 under the British.<br><br>We honour all who served. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RemembranceSunday?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RemembranceSunday</a> <a href="https://t.co/pNeBlJMC4R">pic.twitter.com/pNeBlJMC4R</a>
—@theJagmeetSinghMississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie called Cherry's comments "despicable."
For <a href="https://twitter.com/CoachsCornerDC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CoachsCornerDC</a> to say that “you people” do not respect 🇨🇦 or our veterans is despicable. We’re proud of diverse cultural heritage and we‘ll always stand up for it. New immigrants enrich our country for the better. We’re all Canadians and wear our poppies proudly.
—@BonnieCrombieToronto Mayor John Tory implored Cherry to come to Old City Hall on Remembrance Day to "see thousands of Canadians of all ages, nationalities, faiths and backgrounds" who honour veterans.
Don Cherry is way off base to question the devotion of newer Canadians to the very same veterans and the sacrifices we will honour tomorrow on Remembrance Day. His comments are unfair and just plain wrong.
—@JohnToryFormer Liberal MP and previous Ontario Premier Bob Rae also weighed in.
"Cherry's remarks were ignorant and prejudiced, and at this point in our history can't go without comment."
Poppies are sold every year starting on the last Friday in October until Remembrance Day on Nov. 11 by The Royal Canadian Legion to raise money in support of veterans and their families.
Another response to Cherry's comments came from Paula Simons, an independent senator from Alberta.
She wrote that it has not been her experience that new immigrants don't wear poppies or appreciate the tragedies of war, and further condemned the sentiment behind Cherry's remarks.
"We don't honour the sacrifice of those who died in battle by sowing division or distrust," Simons wrote.
Rumours circulated about the possibility of Cherry being cut from Coach's Corner earlier this year after a Toronto Sun columnist wrote that his return to the show had not been confirmed by the summer.
Cherry said at the time that he was not retiring from the decades-old show yet.
With files from CBC News, CBC Sports