Backlash Over NHL Player’s Family Photo Leads to Post Removal

An unexpected response from some social media users prompted the NHL to delete a post featuring Washington Capitals player Dylan Strome with his young daughter. The image showed them dressed as princesses during a visit to a makeover boutique at Disneyland, and initially seemed innocent enough.

Strome’s wife expressed her dismay, stating, “The comments and messages about my two-year-old daughter are some of the meanest and disgusting things I’ve ever read in my life.” While many people found the post heartwarming, a subset of commenters linked it to a controversial moment involving a past Olympic men’s hockey team interaction with former President Trump, where jokes about the women’s team were made. Some perceived the post as tone-deaf in relation to these comments.

The criticism, however, was misplaced. Strome wasn’t part of the Olympic team nor connected to the incident in question, and to add another layer, he is Canadian. Despite this, the backlash continued online, with some comments being particularly harsh.

• One user remarked, “Laughing at misogynistic jokes told by rapists and pedophiles—he seems like the worst girl’s father ever.”
• Another posted, “Don’t hide your misogyny behind ‘girl dad.’ Being a dad of girls means fighting for equal pay, respect, and opportunities.”
• Yet another comment indicated, “It’s just crazy to worship a pedophile in ‘Father of Girls,'” reflecting a chaotic flow of accusations.

The NHL opted to take down the post, but offered no explanation for its removal. Meanwhile, Strome’s wife took to social media to defend her family. She pointed out the unfairness of dragging her husband and child into a narrative they didn’t choose, stating, “We were put into a story that had nothing to do with us.” She emphasized that their family shouldn’t be a pawn in others’ political debates.

“I think this isn’t about politics. She’s just a kid. Give it your all. Try harder,” she added, defending her daughter amidst the torrent of negativity.

In a somewhat separate note, the President had invited both the U.S. men’s and women’s Olympic teams to a recent State of the Union address, which the men’s team attended while the women’s team declined to participate.