A public address announcer for a professional lacrosse team in Philadelphia is apologizing for suggesting that the hair of an opposing Native American player be chopped off, saying “let’s snip the pony tail.”
Announcer Shawny Hill apologized on Twitter early Sunday after making the remark during Saturday’s game against the Georgia Swarm in reference to Lyle Thompson, a forward of Iroquois descent from New York’s Onondaga Reservation, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“I am deeply sorry for my insensitive statements during last night’s game,” Hill tweeted. “My words were poorly chosen and were not intended as racially motivated. I offer my sincere apology.”
Hill, whose post was later retweeted by the Wings’ official account, said his remarks did not reflect his personal beliefs, but rather a “lack of knowledge” pertaining to heritage and history.
“I am in the process of reaching out to speak directly to the Thompson brothers in hopes of providing a direct apology,” Hill’s tweet concluded.
Thompson — a former league MVP in 2015 whose brother Miles also plays for the Swarm — referenced Hill’s comments a day earlier, saying that Hill uttered the insensitive remarks to “the whole arena,” prompting other fans to say they intended to chop off his hair.
“Damn Daniel,” Thompson tweeted.
In a subsequent post, Thompson referenced Philadelphia’s reputation for fervent sports fans, but said Hill’s misguided call to action brought back painful memories from his childhood.
“I know Philly takes pride in their ruthless fans but I didn’t know it was like that lol … now I know,” Thompson tweeted. “Just haven’t heard stuff like this [high school].”
Brendan Bomberry, an attacker for the Swarm who hails from Canada’s Six Nations reservation, also chimed in on the controversy, accusing Hill of ruining an otherwise great game and atmosphere.
“It was overshadowed by your in-game announcer’s comments toward my teammates,” Bomberry tweeted. “’Let’s snip the braid’ was disgusting and a reality for my ancestors when they were forced into Christian residential schools.”
Bomberry referred to the practice of cutting Native American students’ hair as part of a forced assimilation. Native American students have also had to overcome taunts referring to the violent scalping practices of the US’ colonial history, although it’s unclear which connotation Hill was referring to during Saturday’s game.
The Wings, meanwhile, promised in a statement that “swift disciplinary and educational measures” would follow Hill’s remarks.
“The Philadelphia Wings are deeply apologetic for the insensitive words that were chosen by our in-arena host during last night’s game against the Georgia Swarm,” the team tweeted. “We immediately addressed this inadvertent yet offensive occurrence and are taking the situation very seriously.”
The statement continued: “The Wings do not tolerate discrimination of any sort and are taking swift disciplinary measures to ensure that this does not happen again.”
A message seeking comment Monday from the team regarding details of Hill’s punishment was not immediately returned.
Some on social media, however, suggested that he should no longer be employed by the Wings.
“I have been a pro sports announcer for more than a decade,” a sports announcer from Canada replied. “A comment like that isn’t inadvertent. Your announcer is either profoundly ignorant about the culture that created lacrosse or simply didn’t care. Either way, not okay for the voice of a team in the @NLL.”
