The Canadian Press has learned that a fan who’s been in tears for months is using a sign in his bathroom to promote his fandom of the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The sign says “only fans,” but some have taken it as a reference to a “big ass” fan, a reference that the Toronto Sun’s Jason Botnick was quick to point out.
The fan told the paper he’s been “really trying to get to know” his “big-ass fan” for months and “it’s just gotten really, really hard.”
The sign has also become a source of contention among fans, with some arguing the reference is “inappropriate” and “unnecessary.”
“I don’t care if you want to call me a jerk, or you want me to call you a bigot, that doesn’t change the fact that I’m here for the Leafs,” said the fan in an interview.
“The Leafs are my team, I love the team, and it’s not like I’m a jerk.
I’m not going to stand for something that’s not on my team.
I have a great team, they’re great, I know how to be a great teammate.”
“If I could get rid of this ‘big-assed fan’ sign, I would,” said another fan who has been following the issue closely.
“There are some fans out there who just like to make a big deal out of everything.”
The Toronto Star has also weighed in on the situation, writing: The Toronto Maple Leaf Hockey Club is not responsible for what fans say on their Twitter feeds.
In a tweet sent Monday, the club said: “The Toronto Maple League, the Ontario Hockey League and the NHLPA are not responsible when people use their Twitter accounts to express personal opinions or otherwise harm or threaten other players.”