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Toronto Maple Leafs players could sue TSN for aired tweet

By Cory Buck

Mar 9, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo decal at center ice before the start of the shootout against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre. The Penguins beat the Maple Leafs 5-4 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 9, 2013; Toronto, ON, Canada; The Toronto Maple Leafs logo decal at center ice before the start of the shootout against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Air Canada Centre. The Penguins beat the Maple Leafs 5-4 in the shootout. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Maple Leafs players Joffrey Lupul and Dion Phaneuf, along with Phaneuf’s wife Elisha Cuthbert could file suit against TSN seeking payment for damages.

Once Toronto Maple Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul tweeted his displeasure with TSN over their flubbed ‘tweets from the fans’ segment, it was only a matter of time until the other shoe dropped.  After the Canadian sports network’s rolling coverage of the NHL trade deadline aired a tweet that jokingly alluded to adultery between Lupul and teammate Dion Phaneuf’s wife, actress Elisha Cuthbert, the three offended parties quickly obtained legal representation and fired back.

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The lawyers for Lupul, Phaneuf and Cuthbert sent a letter to TSN demanding an apology and threatening legal action for damages incurred.

"“On behalf of our clients Dion Phaneuf, his wife Elisha Cuthbert and Joffrey Lupul, we have sent a letter to TSN demanding that TSN issue a formal apology and pay a significant amount of damages to each of our clients for broadcasting a false and defamatory tweet during their trade deadline show yesterday. We are sending a similar letter to the author of the tweet, Mr. Anthony Adragna.”"

Here’s the tweet as it appeared on TSN:

You can imagine how hard it is to take Darren Dreger giving insider info when stuff like that is gliding across the bottom of the screen. It’s not that Dreger is supporting the tweet, but the network throwing it up against their personalities isn’t a good look.

TSN obviously apologized and promised reform in its approach to fan interaction, which makes us wonder what the process was in the first place. Surely no human eye looked over this tweet and said, “Yes, this will do. Your move, Dreger.”

That indiscretion of course prompted this from Lupul:

One would have assumed the stinging rebuke was enough, but it looks like TSN will have to reach deep in its pockets to make proper amends for this gaffe.

And that all makes sense. These are public figures in large markets who would be professionally affected by damaging stories about their own indiscretions. The company responsible should pay to make amends for that as there is precedent for such.

Let’s not roast this guy too much for his tweet though, as it was meant in a joking way — albeit a douchey way.

If we start punishing people for mean tweets, there’s going to be no more money left. Bottom line. If you’re inviting fans to tweet their thoughts to your show, you have to put your filter on STRICT AS (EXPLETIVE) mode. Anything that gets through that filter is your fault and no one else’s. Leave the everyman out of this, Maple Leafs players. Lord knows you’ve done enough to those poor fans already.

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