Conservativesi have been having conniptions regarding athletes who choose not to stand with their hands over their hearts for the United States' national anthem.
Though, recently, these qualms of outrage have gotten more and more ridiculous, to the point conservative pundits are seeing so-called infractions where none exist.
Like the United States Women's National Soccer Team.
Thank you, Pete! 🇺🇸❤️ https://t.co/BL7kgHbLfg— U.S. Soccer WNT (@U.S. Soccer WNT) 1625519288.0
A false claim about the US team took hold of the internet on Monday, after conservative social media accounts began reporting the team "turned their backs" on 98-year-old Pete DuPre, who sang the US national anthem for the game.
This "controversy" about the US Women's National Team was entirely fabricated by right-wing figures. Some of the pl… https://t.co/3Y8Tb7vAMb— Daniel Dale (@Daniel Dale) 1625579534.0
After running the baseless claim in a headline, Breitbart News ran an "update" that framed this as a he-said, she-s… https://t.co/vZuLf0gCit— Daniel Dale (@Daniel Dale) 1625579675.0
Fox News also went with this "denies" framing. To their credit, some on the right -- even some who don't have the… https://t.co/ivUKSPWjp5— Daniel Dale (@Daniel Dale) 1625579796.0
A look closer at the purported incident shows that the players who were being slammed for turning their backs were in fact hailing an American Flag on the other side of the field, located next to the scoreboard at the University of Connecticut's Rentschler Field in East Hartford.
Several team members had their hands over their hearts while looking at the flag.
@ddale8 @GeorgeTakei They do it because they know their followers aren't smart enough to question it.— HeywoodJ (@HeywoodJ) 1625580157.0
@ddale8 It’s part of their narrative. Designed to pull us apart, to foment hate and division. But we deserve better… https://t.co/YkRtSUnJHh— Jade Jurek (@Jade Jurek) 1625581554.0
@ddale8 Fascinating how fixated the right is on making sure everyone shows unquestioning religious deference to a c… https://t.co/sn4DMJTOXn— Founders’ Follower (@Founders’ Follower) 1625581733.0
@ddale8 The real controversy is the idea that these women have no right to turn their back during the national anth… https://t.co/AHlgovA1ai— Will Aron (@Will Aron) 1625584954.0
@ddale8 @grace_panetta And they know it is and they don't care. They are not good faith actors.— The System (@The System) 1625579660.0
Several members of the team also commented on the original "conspiracy" tweeted by the Post Millennial.
We turned because we faced the flag 🇺🇸 https://t.co/1JJHUWGCLv— Carli Lloyd (@Carli Lloyd) 1625538249.0
To be clear, no one turned their back on WWII Veteran Pete DuPré during tonight's anthem. Some USWNT players were s… https://t.co/tCroUPdjiH— U.S. Soccer Comms (@U.S. Soccer Comms) 1625537684.0
@TPostMillennial Umm…I was at the game. The players faced the flag. This is a disgraceful post. https://t.co/hNDV9pGM64— Michael Egan (@Michael Egan) 1625540835.0
Looking toward the flag, not turning backs on Pete. https://t.co/Dgh4FxP50F— Maena Ochieng (@Maena Ochieng) 1625615499.0
Or they were facing the flag?? 🤡 #USWNT https://t.co/heECpahMyr— Alex Reynaga (@Alex Reynaga) 1625544618.0
Ultimately, the team won against their opposition, Mexico, 4-0.
The National Women's Team are set to play in the upcoming Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo.