San Jose Sharks Apologize for Controversial Scoreboard Message

The San Jose Sharks have come under scrutiny after a message supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement appeared on the scoreboard during a recent event.

This incident took place on Saturday during the team’s annual Hispanic Celebration at the SAP Center in San Jose, California, which, ironically, was meant to honor Hispanic heritage.

During a scoreless match against the Pittsburgh Penguins, a message flashed on the scoreboard reading, “SJ SHARKS FANS LOVE ICE!! GET’EM BOYZ!” Alongside this, a video showed the team mascot, SJ Sharkey, waving enthusiastically.

One fan expressed their outrage on social media, questioning how such a message could be displayed on a night dedicated to celebrating Hispanic culture. They stated, “I’m so appalled and disappointed in you right now.”

In response to the backlash, the Sharks organization issued an apology later that evening. They described the message as offensive and claimed it came from an “external source.” The statement clarified that, “During the first intermission, an offensively worded message sent from outside was mistakenly displayed on the scoreboard.” They emphasized that this message didn’t align with their values and that they would investigate how it slipped through their review processes.

When asked about the status of the investigation, Scott Emmert, the team’s senior vice president of communications, stated that there would be no further comments on the matter.

Meanwhile, a video of the incident revealed an additional scrolling message at the bottom of the screen promoting a customizable greeting feature offered by the Sharks. This program allows fans to display personalized messages during intermissions, subject to certain guidelines.

Despite the initial controversy, the evening was meant to celebrate the team’s commitment to the Bay Area’s vibrant Hispanic community, featuring Latinx performers, Spanish-language broadcasts, and themed merchandise.

Fans reacted to the scoreboard message with mixed feelings, depending on the platform. On X, many seemed supportive of the ICE message, while the comments on Instagram leaned towards criticism, with some labeling the team as racist. Interestingly, there was no dedicated apology posted by the Sharks on their Instagram account.