People are really mad that Shaun White dragged the American flag after he won the gold
The 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang have been huge for American snowboarders, and that streak continued last night, when Shaun White won his third gold medal for the men’s halfpipe snowboarding competition. White was obviously thrilled when he found out he won. Viewers were pretty thrilled for him, too…until he dragged the American flag around on the ground. That’s when people got angry.
As he celebrated his win at the bottom of the halfpipe, White jumped up and down, hugged everyone, and cried happy tears. And, as is custom with gold medal winners, White was handed his country’s flag to drape over his shoulders.
However, he soon ended up just dragging it behind him, and even stepping on it at times.
A lot of viewers were angry at the seemingly careless and disrespectful gesture.
Congrats @shaunwhite – Now can you stop dragging our flag on the ground and stepping on it, please? Show some respect. pic.twitter.com/OjeeM7Melt
— Nathan (@RealAntiWoke) February 14, 2018
Shaun White just broke flag code like six times.
— Luke Perrin (@glukeperrin) February 14, 2018
Look, I’m Canadian, and fairly ignorant, so I don’t really have a horse in this race, but are we sure that Shaun White dragging the American flag through the snow is okay, while Colin kneeling isn’t?
— Jeremy Stevenson (@MyColtsAccount) February 14, 2018
#ShaunWhite Next time you win have some decency and pick up the flag instead of dragging it and stepping on it. This is so disrespectful pic.twitter.com/GNM9eHzXDd
— α∂яιαи νєяα⚡️™ (@adrianvera__16) February 14, 2018
Shaun White needs a class in flag etiquette. Dragging the Stars and Stripes and walking on it is unacceptable.
— Richard M. Long (@Longshots1) February 14, 2018
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CZ Congrats to Shaun White on a masterful gold medal run.
Don't ever drag your country's flag on the ground again. Ever.
— The Gormogons (@Gormogons) February 14, 2018
White did apologize for the major faux paux, saying,
"I remember being handed the flag but I was trying to put my gloves on and hold the flag and get board. Honestly, if there was anything, I definitely didn't mean any disrespect. The flag that's flying on my house right now is way up there. So sorry for that. But I’m definitely proud — very proud — to be a part of Team USA and being an American and to be representing for everyone back home."
Other viewers stepped in to defend White: false
Absolutely love seeing triggered conservatives cry on twitter because Shaun White *accidentally* let the flag touch the ground after LITERALLY WINNING THE UNITED STATES A GOLD MEDAL
— dr. j ⚖ (@eJuanZack) February 14, 2018
If your bitching about @shaunwhite dragging the flag then you should also be pissed off whenever it is held horizontally across a ball field or made into clothing. All flag code violations. Congrats Shaun!! #Olympics
— John Pierpont Morgan (@P1erpont) February 14, 2018
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I can’t even with these people complaining that Shaun White let the flag touch the ground. You realize he just won a gold medal FOR OUR COUNTRY. Laid all his talent on the line with an American flag patch on his arm and people want to call him disrespectful. Smh…
— Jared Purcell (@JaredPurcellDET) February 14, 2018
Well, no one can say the Olympics doesn’t have its share of drama. Personally, we can’t wait to see what happens next (as well as who else snags the gold, of course).
