Boxer Jamie McDonnell deletes "inappropriate" Auschwitz pics after fan backlash
Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to the Daily Star’s newsletter
Former British IBF champion Jamie McDonnell is more than used to the odd sparring session.
However, the undefeated Brit has found himself in the eye of a social media storm after posting a series of photos from his visit to the Auschwitz concentration camp with his partner.
The Twitter universe did not take exception to his ‘tone-deaf’ pictures which featured a selfie of him and his partner in front of the gates of Auschwitz.
There were also pictures of him standing with his arms aloft in front of the entrance of the concentration camp.
But despite deleting some of his tweets and photos, McDonnell has defended himself and his photos, describing the critics as ‘keyboard warriors”.
McDonnell first landed himself in hot water when he tweeted the photos alongside the caption “lovely day trip today round Auschwitz, opens your eyes a lot”.
But one Twitter user replied: “I don’t think the term lovely is quite appropriate for a description of Auschwitz. Also probs best not to pose like that in a place people experienced hell, suffering, torture, and death. But hey at least it opened your eyes."
HAVE YOUR SAY! What were your opinions of the photographs? Comment below
And McDonnell, who has also deleted his response, quickly replied, “Obviously meaning a nice day out with the misses her in Poland, and the place opens your eyes, chill your bean.”
Despite the immediate backlash, McDonnell has continued the fight, with several other tweets.
“Ok mate it’s a tourist place is it not so if we visit we can’t smile, come on pal,” McDonnell replied to somebody who did not like his decision to smile at the death camp.
“That’s why I am there obviously, I have a weekend away with my girlfriend, I’m not going to not smile am I, but I understand what’s happened chill out a bit.”
Over 1.1 million people, including around 865,000 Jews, 74,000 ethnic Poles, 21,000 Roma gypsies, and 15,000 Soviet prisoners of war are believed to have been murdered at Auschwitz during the Second World War.
One Twitter user summed up the post by writing: "I do think it is good that they took the time to visit auschwitz and I’m sure they learned a lot but the optics here are not great. You really don’t need to take photos at an extermination camp – you certainly shouldn’t be taking selfies. The site is a mass grave."
- Boxing
Source: Read Full Article