Wasps bound All Black compares Grenfell Tower tragedy to 9/11 conspiracy
Wasps bound All Black flyhalf Lima Sopoaga has courted controversy online after tweeting a number of bizarre observations about the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
The tragic blaze broke out on June 14th, 2017 in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of public housing flats in West London.
It left 72 of the buiding’s 293 inhabitants dead.
The 16 times capped All Black was watching a documentary on the fire before issuing a series of clumsy and provocative tweets.
“Anyone else watching this grenfell tower documentary on TV1. #sosad”
Anyone else watching this grenfell tower documentary on TV1. #SoSad
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) June 24, 2018
His next tweets were more cryptic however, with the Highlanders’ pivot making a comparison between the London fire and 911, and comparing the cost of the Royal Wedding to how much was spent in the aftermath of the tragedy by the UK government.
“So they had money for a royal wedding but no money to help the people of grenfell tower? The Fs up with that!”
So they had money for a royal wedding but no money to help the people of grenfell tower? The Fs up with that!
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) June 24, 2018
“Makes you think that if grenfell burned for a few days and never collapsed. How did the twin towers collapse because of a fire?
Makes you think that if grenfell burned for a few days and never collapsed. How did the twin towers collapse because of a fire? ??
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) June 24, 2018
Understandably many Tweeters were quick to correct the All Black and challenge him on his apparently careless tweets.
Greenfell didn't have a plane hit it first…
— Raggs (@rugbydantasman) June 24, 2018
Best you just stick to thinking about winning your next cap. Leave thinking about serious issues to people with the I.Q of more than a rocking horse.? #Buffoon
— Russ Gardner (@RussGardner13) June 24, 2018
— Pappa (@pappabearhbc) June 24, 2018
Entitled to your opinion @LimaSopoaga , but trying to win over new @WaspsRugby fans, a lot of whom are royalists, with comments like this, won't help. There is more about these royal budgets and what has happened with Grenfell than you can learn in a documentary.
— IanBlack (@IronWasp1961) June 24, 2018
Stay out of British politics until you know your facts Lima… pic.twitter.com/Cm6cv29qi5
— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) June 24, 2018
It’s not the first time Lima has courted controversy on social media. The All Black got into a bust-up with fans after apparently criticising an NBA player.
The NBA star JR Smith posted a hypothetical scenario on Instagram, asking his followers what would they do if they found a truck full of cash with your child and the driver of the truck deceased.
Smith captioned that his child would have said “Daddy get that side i got this side” to which Lima Sopoaga replied, “Daddy will all this money buy you a jump shot to help LBJ in the finals?”
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a one-man band in the NBA playoffs with many commentators criticising the team for performing poorly providing little to no help to Lebron James. The trolling by Sopoaga triggered a wave of angry NBA fans, unaware of who he was.
Wasps are confirmed Sopoaga will be joining them for the 2018/19 season following his Super Rugby commitments with the Highlanders.
The 26-year-old has 16 caps and has scored 55 test points since making his All Blacks debut against South Africa in July 2015.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments