Vancouver Canucks anthem singer Mark Donnelly.
Image Credit: Jonathan Hayward/CP
December 05, 2020 - 4:21 PM
The Vancouver Canucks have fired their long-time anthem singer after he said he would sing at an anti-COVID-19 restriction protest.
The incident has sparked debate online.
The Vancouver Sun originally reported that Mark Donnelly confirmed he would sing at the protest which took place Dec. 5 in downtown Vancouver.
Last night, shortly after Donnelly confirmed his plans with the media outlet, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini tweeted “Hey @VancouverSun change the headline to ‘Former Canucks anthem singer.’ #wearamask.”
READ MORE: Canucks fire anthem singer Mark Donnelly after plans to sing at anti-mask rally
Here’s what readers had to say about Donnelly’s firing:
Doreen Landry: Nobody is stopping you from talking just you don’t have the right to put the rest of us a risk shame on Mark.
Judas Ryan: Guess what, people who are saying he hasn't done anything wrong - if you go to an anti-mask rally, you're much more likely to carry it around with you afterwards. Next national anthem he sings for Canucks? He could be carrying COVID. He has a right not to wear a mask just as Canuck fans have a right to be safe.
Dylan McCune: Remember when you had freedom of speech... That was great.
Mike Everatt: Well, that worked out great. I hope the rally is worth it, Mark.
Travis Schwab: I continue to lose respect for our pro players and teams for this very reason.
Michelle Virdee: We cannot follow the lead of the U.S. response. They've demonstrated the folly of disregarding facts and science. It's the American people who are paying the ultimate price. So it's inconceivable that people are still promoting that as the way to go.
Nathalie Giroux: Good... good riddance to these yahoos who can't be decent and wear a mask to protect our vulnerable population. Being selfish has a price... I am glad to see.
Joey Diamanti: I wear a mask when asked to, and such; but to fire a man for taking a paid gig, is ridiculous. I'm sorry, but this isn't grounds for dismissal unless he has a clause in his employment contract saying he's not permitted to do any other outside work not for the Canucks.
I wouldn't be participating in those rallies, because I wear a mask to support people like my mother, but this isn't going to go well for Aquilini.
Susan Cottrell: Perhaps, as the arts have been destroyed due to COVID, he was just trying to make a buck?
Richard Phillips: I am sure that Donnelly will get a severance package and learn the lesson that while there may be freedom of speech, it often comes with negative consequences!
Do you think Donnelly should have been fired? Let us know by sending us an email to news@infonews.ca.
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