Gary Lineker and Piers Morgan don’t see eye-to-eye on Raheem Sterling’s new ink.
It’s pretty clear that certain members of the English media have a real problem with Raheem Sterling. Every time he makes a mistake, or even, you know, does anything, he seems to be vilified.
Well, the Sun have caused a real stir with their coverage of Sterling’s new tattoo. On the lead story of their FRONT PAGE on Tuesday, they ran with a piece on the Man City man’s ink. Sterling got a machine gun tattooed on his ankle, which the publication pointed out had ‘sparked fury’ from anti-gun campaigners. They even reported that some of these campaigners are calling for him to be withdrawn from England’s World Cup squad as a result.
Match of the Day host, Gary Lineker found the whole story bizarre.
It’s weird. Leave him alone ffs. https://t.co/USEAl1o4F9
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 28, 2018
A wild Morgan appears
Sterling was compelled to respond to the front page on his Instagram Story. He explained the tattoo was a reminder of his vow to never touch firearms following the death of his father, who died after being shot when he was a small child. He added the body art had ‘deeper meaning’ and was still unfinished.
Lineker saw the story as an attempt to destroy Sterling’s confidence prior to the World Cup. He considers that ‘unpatriotic’ trait unique to England.
Unique to this country to attempt to destroy our players morale before a major tournament. It’s weird, unpatriotic and sad. https://t.co/vCfVTm9w0r
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 28, 2018
That chap off from that TV show where they wheel out folks who are desperate for their 15 minutes of fame and make them dance for mindless entertainment, Piers Morgan, responded to Lineker’s tweet. He callously disregarded Sterling’s explanation for getting the tattoo.
So you think it’s perfectly OK for an England football star to tattoo a large assault rifle onto his leg just before a World Cup, where it will be seen by billions of people? I find THAT pretty weird & sad, regardless of his explanation. https://t.co/iDH7vIyHaw
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) May 29, 2018
Lineker was befuddled.
What next? Ban films with guns? The Arsenal badge? It’s his business what kind of art he has tattooed on his body. https://t.co/T6cnZxiZML
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
Can’t see it being particularly popular. https://t.co/ih0UaK6WJd
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
When Morgan fired back with the hackneyed, hypothetical and utterly irrelevant, ‘what if it was a swastika tattoo?’ argument, Lineker gave it the response it warranted.
Whataboutery nonsense. To compare a picture of a gun with KKK or a swastika is frankly ridiculous. https://t.co/7Q88OuKp9n
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
Then the ‘debate’ just refused to end. Morgan seemingly being a glutton for punishment.
There are obviously limits, I’m not a fool….well I am, but not that much of a fool. One question for you: should Arsenal (a collection of weapons and military equipment) change their name and/or badge? https://t.co/8Ou30V9xAR
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
The drawing of a gun to shoot someone is very different to a drawing of a gun. https://t.co/uTHPm6utUL
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
You can take the Editor out of the tabloid, but you can never take the tabloid out of the Editor. https://t.co/eqKLpX4g1q
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
Ah when all else fails, the old shift the subject tactic emerges. You always tell me you earn more. https://t.co/9shRt8cgUi
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) May 29, 2018
It could have been worse. It could have been a Piers Morgan tattoo.
Could have been worse! Could have had an even bigger weapon on his leg 👍 pic.twitter.com/pXmYNaNpbg
— T2Stokie🏴🇬🇧🦅🔱 (@WesLatocha) May 29, 2018
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