Being racist is already pretty bad reputation-wise, but the last place you'd ever want to be outed is during the freaking Olympics.
Meet Voula Papachristou, a Greek triple jumper who was recently expelled from Greece's Olympic team after posting a racist joke to her Twitter account. While we might not speak Greek, the translated tweet was more banal than funny:
Once she realized that she pretty much sucked in the eyes of her fellow peers, the athlete hired a PR to post the following statement in both Greek and English on her Twitter page:
Several news outlets in Greece also pointed out that Papachristou had previously retweeted a message from Ilias Kasidiaris, the same politician in Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party who went viral after slapping one left-wing female politician and throwing water over another during a televised debate. Guess Greeks that hate together, stay together?
Meet Voula Papachristou, a Greek triple jumper who was recently expelled from Greece's Olympic team after posting a racist joke to her Twitter account. While we might not speak Greek, the translated tweet was more banal than funny:
"With so many Africans in Greece .. At least the West Nile mosquitos .. will eat homemade food!!!"
It didn't take long for the jumper's tweet to make its rounds, prompting an outpouring of negative feedback. In an attempt to defend herself, Papachristou replied to her haters by insisting that she was not a CD (eh?). Here's what she tweeted:"That's how I am. I laugh! I'm not a CD that gets stuck!!! If I make mistakes, I don't press replay! I press Play and move on!
Obviously, after everyone stopped scratching their heads while trying to decipher her message, they pointed out that she might not be a CD but she's still very much racist. By then, the Greek Olympic committee had released a statement declaring that Papachristou had been "placed outside the Olympic team for statements contrary to the values and ideas of the Olympic movement," which is basically just a nice way of saying she was being fired.Once she realized that she pretty much sucked in the eyes of her fellow peers, the athlete hired a PR to post the following statement in both Greek and English on her Twitter page:
I would like to express my heartfelt apologies for the unfortunate and tasteless joke I published on my personal Twitter account. I am very sorry and ashamed for the negative responses I triggered, since I never wanted to offend anyone, or to encroach human rights.
My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values. Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races.
I would like to apologize to all my friends and fellow athletes, who I may have insulted or shamed, the National Team, as well as the people and companies who support my athletic career. Finally, I would like to apologize to my coach and my family.
According to the BBC, her coach George Pomaski said the punishment was too harsh and that she had already apologized. My dream is connected to the Olympic Games and I could not possibly participate if I did not respect their values. Therefore, I could never believe in discrimination between human beings and races.
I would like to apologize to all my friends and fellow athletes, who I may have insulted or shamed, the National Team, as well as the people and companies who support my athletic career. Finally, I would like to apologize to my coach and my family.
Several news outlets in Greece also pointed out that Papachristou had previously retweeted a message from Ilias Kasidiaris, the same politician in Greece's far-right Golden Dawn party who went viral after slapping one left-wing female politician and throwing water over another during a televised debate. Guess Greeks that hate together, stay together?
