[Drance] Kuzmenko parle par l’intermédiaire d’un traducteur (Vitali Kravtsov) pour parler de sa décision de ne pas porter de pull de fierté. « Je respecte les choix de chacun et de chacun et j’espère que tout le monde pourra respecter le mien. » Lorsqu’on lui a demandé s’il s’inquiétait pour sa famille, Kuzmenko n’a fait aucun commentaire.
Kuzmenko is speaking through a translator (Vitali Kravtsov) in addressing his decision not to wear a pride sweater.
“I respect everybody and everybody’s choices and hope everybody can respect mine.”
Asked if he’s concerned about his family, Kuzmenko offers no comment. #Canucks
— Thomas Drance (@ThomasDrance) April 1, 2023
—
PaperMoonShine
40 Comments
A reminder that the law already existed against promoting « gay propaganda » to minors, the NHL is shown to minors, no Russian outside of the country has ever been charged for it, and the maximum penalty is a $7000 CAD fine. Their families are not in danger.
What a bad take … people aren’t « choosing » those parts of their identities. I’ve lost a lot of respect for Kuzmenko here, can only hope that getting more life experience outside of Russia helps him change his outlook.
Tough situation. On one hand I understand the potential repercussions with the Russian factor, but on the other hand, other Russian players have worn it as well, and it’s not like the sweaters are harming anyone.
[deleted]
Man that’s disappointing.
Well, there it is. Like most of us already suspected. Don’t want to hear any more bullshit about how he fears for his family’s safety.
Trade him
[removed]
[removed]
A lot of people in here authoritatively speaking about Russian society and laws. A little humility would go a long way. You don’t know how people react over there regardless of laws.
IMO, this is a live and let live situation. Time to move on.
[removed]
Dead to me. Hope they trade him this off-season.
He wants to embrace the part of our culture that makes him wealthy, but not the part that makes us all celebrate our differences.
There have been 30+ suspicious deaths of Russian business people in the last year and some (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suspicious_deaths_of_Russian_businesspeople_(2022%E2%80%932023)?wprov=sfti1)
Maybe be grateful that you live in a free country where you can express whatever belief you want without consequence.
I understand the disappointment, I also have never lived or had family of mine live in Russia.
Nah fuck that man.
>hope everybody can respect mine
what? your choice that implies a message that LGBT people don’t belong here? something that gay people have no control over and don’t « choose » to be
no, I won’t fucking respect your choice.
Cmon Kuz reconsider for next year!
Just because he isn’t wearing the jersey, does not make him anti-lgbtq. Live and let live, people want to support the outrage of the month. This could not have been an easy choice for him, maybe next year him and his family will give it a little more thought. His family is in Russia and he has only been here 6 months, cut the man some slack this is all new to him and his family.
Honestly, I’m disappointed. He was becoming my favourite player, but now this has tainted my image of him.
When the player refusing to wear the jersey was an opponent, virtually 100% of the people here raked him through the coals, slandered him, created memes making fun of him, etc… Multiple times, for multiple different players. But when it’s a player they like instead… The hypocrisy is just jaw-dropping.
I think it’s worth mentioning how isolating living in Russia can be in terms of issues concerning LGBT people. Homophobia is so pervasive is Russia that schools, parents, and even the government will tell children that they’ll burn in hell if they grow up to be gay.
Russia is not like the United States. You do not get much news that doesn’t come directly from Russian news sources, so the government is able to perpetuate a certain viewpoint. You don’t meet many people with differing viewpoints because you all consume the same media and attended the same schools run by the same government.
I’m not excusing anything or making a case one way or another, but this is likely Kuzy’s first time being exposed to something like this (or at least being asking to participate) and I doubt he knows what to make of it. Not saying it’s right or wrong to wear it or not wear it, but I’m just stating what I think might be going on for him
Aside from the LGBTQ rights issue here – why was Vitali Kravtsov the translator?? He could barely get through his initial interview iirc cause of the language barrier. Not defending Kuzy but wondering if there was something lost in translation.
I understand the message behind pride night and support it but why are we forcing players to go against their own beliefs? Isn’t that apart of the overall problem?
Darn, he’s gonna have to give a couple new memes in order for the fans to forgive and forget this one
Reading through the comments, I might be the minority here but I’ll say it anyways…
Kuz has been nothing short of the embodiment of positivity and glee as a hockey player and as a human being from what we see in front of the cameras. It is rare for someone to be so beloved as a 1st year Canuck as Kuz has been in his short tenure here. So why the disappointment when he chooses to express his views on a topic when he is giving us a no BS answer (he’s not hiding behind reasons of family, culture or religion based on his brief comment on the topic).
Tolerance…isn’t this something we pride ourselves on as human beings living in a diverse, multicultural society. So why can’t we show some tolerance and acceptance for Kuz’s standpoint here when he has clearly stated that he respects everybody and their choices…he is only asking that you respect his decision as well (once again without hiding behind any excuses). Key being that he respects the decisions/choices of all others, and to me unless I’m reading it wrong, that does not show an ounce of hate/prejudice towards what Pride night represents. Instead, it is exactly what the bar should be when discussing topics where everyone may have a differing opinion on…tolerance is key.
I feel the subject of Pride and the communities it represents should be built on tolerance and acceptance. Frankly, I feel the notion of “you are either with us, or you are against us” is not suitable for this situation and really taints the spirit that Pride night is trying to convey.
As a new member of the Canucks, Kuz has been a model citizen so far both on and off the ice. Give him some room to grow and let’s not run another guy who loves playing for the Vancouver Canucks out of town.
Following the canucks is like a God damn soap opera. He said he respects everybody and their choices.
I haven’t judged any other Russian and I won’t judge Kuzy as long as he’s respectful about it. Kid grew up in Russia. I’m not going to pretend I know what that’s like.
I need more delusional fans who are suddenly experts in Russian sociology and law to tell me how this is different than [insert NHLer who has refused to wear jersey] and that Kuzmenko is actually very afraid for his family.
Ok everyone. From here on out, we all paint our bananas rainbow before tossing them over the glass to Kuz. 🍌 🌈
I’m disappointed but I’ll wait and reserve judgement for next year. He hasn’t been out of Russia for a full year yet and he grew up surrounded by those views, they don’t change overnight. I think time will change those views.
Quick guys, bend yourselves more out of shape to defend cheering for a bigot!
Nah. I love how the people who love to invoke « freedom of speech » rights know absolutely nothing about it. Freedom of expression in Canada means that the government can’t put you in jail because of what you say. That’s it. It doesn’t make you immune to criticism or consequences. Kuzmenko doesn’t want to wear the pride jersey, that’s his right. I don’t support him and l am going to criticize him. That’s my right.
« I respect everybody and everybody’s choices and hope that everybody can respect mine ». So what does that mean? We must be tolerant of your intolerance? It presupposes that all ideas are equal and have merit. They do not. Some ideas (like killing people for the simple fact that they are gay) are abhorrent and should be discarded in order to have a thriving, orderly society.
Russia is an unstable country with vast amounts of poverty, domestic violence, alcoholism, social and economic inequality. In Russia, Kuzmenko’s earnings can be seized by the government at any time. He and his family can be thrown in a gulag at any time for any reason. Canada has its own problems, but it is nowhere near the chaotic dysfunctional mafia state that is modern-day Russia. Why is this? Because abhorrent ideas are allowed and encouraged in their society, whereas the same ideas here are denounced and discarded based on reason, logic, compassion and empathy. It is hypocritical for Kuzmenko to enjoy the comforts of Canadian society while rejecting the values that allow it to flourish.
« I respect peoples choices » makes it sound like he doesn’t understand gay or trans people. Also, I don’t respect people who encourage exclusion.
Conclusion – It would ve easier if he just said he’s homophobic
Maybe the « choice » he’s talking about is whether to get mixed up in Canadian political/social issues?
I respect the guy. And I respect the other guys who wore the jersey. It’s easy to judge the man but if you grew up being told something is wrong you don’t just change your believes because you moved to a new country. I don’t think the guy hates people or wishes bad on people. I once held similar views when I was a Christian and growing up I didn’t feel hate towards lgbt people. Just thought it was wrong. I feel differently now but people assume this guy hates these people and I think that’s a wrong assumption.
I hope everybody can respect my intolerance. Nah fuck Kuzmenko.
Lmfao whatever. Shitty move by Kuz and it’s embarrassing how many people are defending him.
I’m here for the woke comments about how you don’t respect his choice.
milkshake duck’d
In Canada he is free to not wear the jersey if he doesn’t want to. Stop vilifying anyone who doesn’t conform to this constant bullshit.
Kuzy so afraid of looking gay, he’s going to start mashing up his bananas on the bench before eating them.