Sports clothing store Totalsports' decision to remove all posters featuring Springbok Eben Etzebeth ahead of the Rugby World Cup final has seen a backlash from the public.
The retail store announced via social media that it would be removing all posters featuring Etzebeth from all its stores.
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The company said the media controversy around Etzebeth was “felt in our stores”.
“As a brand, we don’t do controversies, we do sport — so we made the decision to remove his poster.
“Without taking sides or passing judgment, we wanted to make sure all our customers feel comfortable in our stores,” it said.
TimesLIVE reported that Etzebeth was accused of physically and racially abusing four people during an altercation outside a pub in Langebaan, Western Cape, in August. The four are claiming R1m in damages.
The 27-year-old has, however, denied the reports posted on social media about the alleged incident, saying that they are “completely untrue and unfounded”.
“It is completely untrue and unfounded to claim that I physically or racially abused anyone in Langebaan, as has been reported on social media. Multiple witnesses can corroborate that.
“I am and will always strive to be a true ambassador to this beautiful rainbow nation and the sport that I love.”
Totalsports' statement was met with massive outrage on social media, as many social media users vowed to boycott the store.
Here is a snapshot of some the reactions:
I will be boycotting your store. Perhaps the feeling you get is poor sales in general and you are blaming this on a solitary individual. Well done! AS for ALL customers, your feeling may get just that more apparent!
— 🅹🅰🅼🅴🆂 (Just being me) (@jameshasasay) October 29, 2019
What else can be expected from you....you will feel it. Regret is a good thing but always too late....I won't even window shop at any of your branches.
— Riaan Scholtz (@tappiescholtz) October 29, 2019
Well now i dont feel welcome in your stores because i dont find people quilty until proven to be quilty - you will only now begin to feel the backlash in your stores from real springbok supporters
— bennie vd westhuizen (@bennie2706) October 28, 2019
