A CEO from Michigan has cut her trip to Halifax short after she says she's received death threats over a viral Facebook photo where she and three family members appear to be wearing "Lake America" sweatshirts.
Ah, the internet—a place where a simple family vacation can turn into a national scandal faster than you can say “Lake Ontario.” Recently, a CEO from Saginaw, Michigan, named Jane Smith found herself at the center of a social media storm after a photo of her and her family wearing ‘Lake America’ sweatshirts went viral. Spoiler alert: this was not the kind of publicity she was hoping for.
Let’s rewind a bit. Jane and her family set off for what was supposed to be a delightful 10-day trip to Halifax, Nova Scotia, on September 11. As families do, they began discussing the recent executive order from former President Trump to rename Lake Ontario. And in a moment of questionable humor, they decided to don some matching sweatshirts that proudly proclaimed ‘Lake America.’ Because, you know, nothing says “I love Canada” quite like mocking the name of one of its Great Lakes.
Now, this was all fun and games until Jane decided to post a picture of the family wearing these sweatshirts on Facebook with the caption, “Like our sweatshirts? Not sure Canada will. Lol lol.” I mean, who doesn’t love a good pun, right? But the internet, being the unpredictable beast that it is, took that post and ran with it. And by ran, I mean it sprinted straight into the realm of outrage.
Before long, Smith found herself facing a barrage of backlash that included death threats, because apparently, some people take their lakes very seriously. In a desperate attempt to salvage her reputation, she issued an apology that many felt sounded more like an excuse than genuine contrition.
In her apology, she claimed they weren’t trying to make a political statement, just poking fun at the situation. But come on, Jane—when you wear a sweatshirt that says ‘Lake America,’ you might as well be waving a flag that says “I’m here to stir the pot!”
The ugly American stereotype reared its head once again, and it seems to have struck a nerve, especially with our friends up north. Canadians are known for their politeness, but even they have their limits when it comes to being the butt of a joke.
So, what can we learn from this? Well, first and foremost, think before you post. Social media can turn a harmless family photo into a hotbed of controversy faster than you can say “viral.”
Secondly, if you’re going to poke fun at something, maybe consider how it might be received by the wider world—especially when it involves a neighboring country. And lastly, always have a good PR strategy ready in the event that your family’s vacation attire turns into a headline-making fiasco.
In the end, Jane and her family cut their trip short, likely wishing they had opted for matching ‘I Love Canada’ shirts instead. As for the rest of us, let’s take this as a reminder to keep our humor in check and our sweatshirts neutral. After all, no one wants to be the reason for an international incident, even if it is just a silly photo on Facebook.
Inspired by: “CEO Apologizes After ‘Lake America’ Shirt” (r/Media)