On Monday, the Washington Capitals jumped head first into some messy political humor, releasing a video detailing their mascot’s summer break.
In the video, local news media including Jim Vantz and Doreen Gentzler detail Slapshot’s tumultuous summer, which included an on and off again relationship with Pennsylvania native Taylor Swift. At one point, there is video of Slapshot’s plan to build a wall around the Pennsylvania state line, playing off Donald Trump’s controversial immigration policy. There’s also a clip of Slapshot passing out and being carried out of an event, reminiscent of Hillary Clinton’s health scare at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony.
Video
The corrupt media is pushing completely false allegations and outright lies about my offseason! #rigged Thank goodness #hockeyisback! pic.twitter.com/11h2cpDgYQ
— Slapshot (@Caps_Slapshot) October 17, 2016
To promote the video, Slapshot used lingo from Donald Trump. “The corrupt media is pushing completely false allegations and outright lies about my offseason, #rigged” Slapshot wrote in a tweet. “Thank goodness #hockeyisback!”
As someone who loves creativity and the pushing of boundaries in humor, I give the Capitals two thumbs up on the idea and execution. But the timing of the video — we’re two weeks removed from Donald Trump’s leaked “locker room talk” where he bragged about sexually assaulting women with Billy Bush — makes this uncomfortable for me and leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I’m also not sure joking about someone’s health scare is ever a good idea.
Then again, I was totally for Slapshot’s joke last year of wanting to eat the Carolina Hurricanes mascot Stormy, so maybe this election cycle has just destroyed everything that is good and pure for me.
