PITTSBURGH — A thank you note to Penguins supporters stirred up controversy on Twitter this week, when it was revealed a member of the club's social media staff altered the photo to make it look like three individuals were wearing masks correctly.
Following Tuesday's game, the first of the 2021 season with live spectators at PPG Paints Arena, the Penguins posted a photo illustration on their Twitter account that showed a wide-angle shot of fans cheering. Text was overlaid with an appreciative quote from coach Mike Sullivan.
The photo was adjusted so the woman in the right corner's mask was moved from under her chin to over her face.
The two fans at the bottom covered their mouths but not their noses. The altered photo fixed that.
However, the organization received backlash when the original Getty Image photo surfaced. One woman in the upper-right corner of the frame was wearing a red mask under her chin. The Penguins' altered photo fixed it. In the bottom of the frame, two fans were wearing masks that covered their mouths, but not their noses. The Penguins graphic also altered that potion of the photo.
The Penguins released the following statement in response:
"We are excited to have our fans back to PPG Paints Arena, and following the advice of medical professionals, we are taking all precautions to enforce the use of masks to keep our fans safe. We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy, and our arena staff have roving teams to enforce during home games.
"While perhaps well intended, our staffer should not have altered a wide crowd photo to adjust masks on faces of even a few fans who were not strictly following the rules. Our social media team should never send out altered photos to our fan base. This is a violation of our social media and safety policy, and this staffer has been disciplined."
The doors to the arena were open to fans for the first time on Tuesday, one day after Gov. Tom Wolf relaxed restrictions on gatherings. PPG Paints Arena is now permitted to host up to 2,800 fans (15% of capacity).
The organization has implemented a number of increased safety measures in an attempt to keep fans safe and limit the spread of COVID-19, including enhanced cleaning procedures and touchless features around the arena.
If anything, the photo controversy begins to show the challenge of trying to get any group of people to follow rules and medical guidelines during this pandemic, something that's common not just at hockey games, but in society as a whole.
