NHL player, citing his faith, doesn't warm up with team wearing LGBTQ colors before 'Pride Night' game. ESPN writer who covered controversy bashes player on Twitter.



Philadelphia Flyers player Ivan Provorov, citing his religious beliefs, refused to skate before Tuesday's "Pride Night" game since his teammates were wearing LBGTQ colors for their warm-up, ESPN reported.

The 26-year-old defenseman told reporters after the Flyers' 5-2 home win over the Anaheim Ducks that he intended "to stay true to myself and my religion," the sports network said.

Provorov said he is Russian Orthodox.

"I respect everyone," he added to reporters. "I respect everybody's choices."

\u201c#Flyers Ivan Provorov on his Pride Night pregame boycott :\n\u201cMy choice is to stay true to myself and my religion.\u201d\u201d
— Dan Gelston (@Dan Gelston) 1674015385

The Flyers wore rainbow colors on their warm-up jerseys and used sticks with rainbow tape, which ESPN said are being auctioned by Flyers Charities with proceeds going toward the team's "efforts to grow the game in diverse communities."

Provorov was the only Flyers player who didn't have a jersey or a stick up for auction after the game, the sports network added.

Flyers coach John Tortorella said he didn't consider benching Provorov for not taking part in the warm-up, ESPN reported: "With Provy, he's being true to himself and to his religion. This has to do with his belief and his religion. It's one thing I respect about Provy: He's always true to himself. And so that's where we're at with that."

ESPN writer who penned story bashes Provorov on Twitter

The author of the ESPN story cited above — Greg Wyshynski, senior NHL writer for the sports network — exercised a fairly even hand in his article, but he blasted Provorov on Twitter:

\u201cIvan Provorov is the only @NHLFlyers player not to have a Pride jersey up for postgame auction. \n\nThe sale of pregame jerseys and rainbow sticks benefit Flyers Charities and efforts to grow the game in diverse communities.\n\nProvorov owes them a donation.\n\nhttps://t.co/ODxpexrPto\u201d
— Greg Wyshynski (@Greg Wyshynski) 1674013116

"Ivan Provorov is the only @NHLFlyers player not to have a Pride jersey up for postgame auction," Wyshynski tweeted. "The sale of pregame jerseys and rainbow sticks benefit Flyers Charities and efforts to grow the game in diverse communities. Provorov owes them a donation."

Responding to a Twitter user who declared Provorov doesn't owe "s**t" to Flyers Charities for holding to "his belief," Wyshynski shot back: "He literally refused to participate in a charity fundraising event for his team. This isn't skipping Pride because he refused to wave from a float. He does, in fact, owe them s**t."

Wyshynski wasn't done:

\u201cOf course, Ivan Provorov is more than happy to play pregame dress-up when it does align with his belief system.\u201d
— Greg Wyshynski (@Greg Wyshynski) 1674014200

Wyshynski also issued a message to "all the homophobes" taking shots at him on Twitter:

\u201cQuick blanket statement to all the homophobes and \u201cwhat-abouts\u201d in my mentions tonight: \n\n1. I\u2019m 100% not going to debate you on Twitter. \n2. I\u2019ve probably already muted you.\n3. Don\u2019t take selfies while driving, let alone while wearing those sunglasses.\u201d
— Greg Wyshynski (@Greg Wyshynski) 1674015942

Wyshynski wasn't alone

As you might guess, Wyshynski wasn't the only sports media figure to get personal undergarments in a wad over the situation:

\u201cIvan Provorov was allowed to play in a game for the Philadelphia Flyers - the organization that was the first to say that you will be removed from the arena if you utter a homophobic slur - after refusing to wear a Pride logo for warm ups.\n\nWhat an absolute disgrace.\u201d
— Steph Driver (@Steph Driver) 1674009978
\u201cthe Flyers, like every team in the NHL, have LGBTQ+ identifying fans. Ivan Provorov just told them all that he doesn\u2019t think they belong in hockey. disgusting.\u201d
— Mike Stephens (@Mike Stephens) 1674009920
\u201cWhy did the Flyers let Ivan Provorov play? \ud83e\udd14\u201d
— Julian McKenzie (@Julian McKenzie) 1674011104

Anything else?

The Flyers, like many professional sports franchises, are heavy supporters of the LGBTQ community and events like "Pride Night."

They're woke in other ways, too.

Readers of TheBlaze may recall that the Flyers in 2019 removed their Kate Smith statue outside the Wells Fargo Center over reports the late vocalist sang racially insensitive songs in the early 1930s.

Smith had been a Flyers legend for singing "God Bless America" before playoff games in the early 1970s when the team won its only Stanley Cup trophies — but in addition to removing her statue, the Flyers also said Smith's "God Bless America" no longer would be played at games and was erased from its library.

Members of Smith's family were outraged at the Flyers for the move and said Smith was not a racist. In fact, Smith told millions back in the day that "race hatreds" must be "exterminated," and she also pioneered racial integration on television.

(H/T: Outkick)

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Cosmopolitan magazine hit with fierce backlash over covers praising obesity despite coronavirus risk



Cosmopolitan magazine faced fierce online backlash and mockery for its latest cover that dabbled in body positivity during a global pandemic where obesity has been identified as a high-risk precondition.

The fashion and entertainment magazine geared toward women highlighted an article touting "11 women on why wellness doesn't have to be one-size-fits-all," on its cover for the February issue.

Our February issue is here! We asked 11 incredible women with 11 very different bodies to open up about their perso… https://t.co/p98aVyvWWN
— Cosmopolitan UK (@Cosmopolitan UK)1609505062.0

The article interviews several women who have become advocates for body positivity.

"Body-shaming was one of the first things I learned to do. I grew up in a community where all of my physical attributes – wide nose, big belly, big ass, big lips, dark skin – were deemed ugly," said Jessamyn Stanley, a yoga teacher. "I've had to accept that's how the mainstream sees me and not try to change. For me, that's been very therapeutic."

The article also includes stories from a woman who had to deal with body issues stemming from an accident that left her in a wheelchair permanently, a woman with a genetic condition that causes dwarfism, and others unrelated to weight issues.

Many on social media found the article to be problematic given how obesity has been identified as a high-risk precondition for complications from the coronavirus pandemic.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls obesity a "common, serious, and costly chronic disease," and identifies it as a precondition that increase the risk of serious illness from the coronavirus.

"A very irresponsible PR stunt in the middle of a public health crisis," tweeted one Twitter user.

Cosmopolitan know exactly what they are doing here. A very irresponsible PR stunt in the middle of a public health… https://t.co/4OOe3CRLlI
— Bella Wallersteiner (@Bella Wallersteiner)1609771132.0

"We know diabetes puts people more at risk of Covid and obesity is the main cause of contracted diabetes in the world. Wokeness at its worst," she added.

"Obesity is the second most significant risk factor for death from COVID-19, after elderly age, and Cosmopolitan honestly thinks this ascientific rubbish is an appropriate cover," responded Jonathan Witt.

Obesity is the second most significant risk factor for death from COVID-19, after elderly age, and Cosmopolitan hon… https://t.co/MiVmcR5gCw
— Jonathan Witt (@Jonathan Witt)1609760852.0

Tone deaf and extremely ignorant," he added.

Supporters of the body positivity movement, however, were outraged at the criticism of the larger-sized women.

"Damn. People are BIG mad about the Cosmopolitan cover. BIG mad. They are literally foaming at the mouth. 2021 let's have more fat women on the front covers of magazines please. Keep it GOING," tweeted Stephanie Yeboah, a body image activist.

Damn. People are BIG mad about the Cosmopolitan cover.BIG mad.They are literally foaming at the mouth.2021 le… https://t.co/UOQY8piASb
— Steph (@Steph)1609777347.0

"I'm sorry but it just pisses me off that out of all 11 women featured in Cosmopolitan magazine, people are relentlessly abusing, harassing and bullying the two plus sized ones," she added.

PC police come for singer Lizzo for betraying the body positivity movement by trying to lose weight



Grammy award-winning singer Lizzo is being criticized for betraying the body positivity movement by trying to lose weight, and some are accusing her of "succumbing to fatphobia."

Lizzo, whose real name is Melissa Viviane Jefferson, sparked the outrage among some of her fans when she posted on Instagram about a 10-day smoothie cleanse program she tried.

"I think I just wanted to stress eat and do things that were like, kind of self-harming. I think that it's just great to reset your stomach and reset things, especially when you deal with gastrointestinal issues like I do. But I think I look f***ing great, too," she explained.

The backlash

Lizzo had been previously praised by many in the fat positivity movement for being very proud of her body size. Some accused her of giving in to "diet culture" and fatphobia.

"Lizzo....girl. Why?" tweeted Stephanie Yeboah, the author of "Fattily Ever After."

It was inevitable. The industry is so violent towards fat women. Of course she was going to submit to toxic diet… https://t.co/G3CZFJ5EDR
— Steph (@Steph)1607981478.0

"It was inevitable. The industry is so violent towards fat women. Of course she was going to submit to toxic diet culture. It was only a matter of time," Yeboah added in further tweets. "I think the disappointment lies in a lot of us (especially fat, black women) seeing ourselves in a woman who was so proud and confident in her body. It made us want to do the same to ours."

She went on to accuse Lizzo of giving in to "fatphobia."

"I have empathy for those who succumb to the pressures of fatphobia - especially when you are in the public eye. Especially when you exist within several intersections that carry little privilege," she said.

Others registered their anger and disappointment with Lizzo on social media.

"Fatphobia intersects with other oppressions. If you're a feminist, or an LGBTQ+ ally, or stand with BLM, etc... you have to stand with fat folk, too," complained another user, who later deleted her tweet when others objected.

"To see Lizzo finally fall into the trap of 'detox' scams is so disheartening. She was the beacon for fat girls like me. A goal that showed we could learn to love ourselves and damn everyone else. And now she's not. I feel so hurt," tweeted another user.

"YES I am angry, YES I am triggered, yes I am mourning a big b**ch *MIGHT* wanna get skinny, bc that's 1 more battle Fatphobia has won. Another loss to a system that wants me dead," tweeted Atlanta poet Aurielle Marie.

'Why are we celebrating her body?'

In January, reality show physical trainer Jillian Michaels was thoroughly excoriated by the body positivity movement after she declined to celebrate Lizzo's body size.

"We should always be inclusive, but, you cannot glorify obesity. It's dangerous. It kills people," Michaels said at the time.

"Why are we celebrating her body? Why does it matter? Why aren't we celebrating her music? 'Cause it isn't going to be awesome if she gets diabetes," Michaels added. "I'm just being honest. I love her music, like my kid loves her music, but there's never a moment when I'm like, 'I'm so glad she's overweight.'"

Here's more about Lizzo and her body image:

Lizzo Says She Will Get Through Her Body Image Issueswww.youtube.com