Penguins discipline employee for altering picture to add masks to fans
The Pittsburgh Penguins welcomed fans back to PPG Paints Arena for the first time since the league suspended play last March due to the COVID-19 pandemic for Tuesday night's game versus the Philadelphia Flyers that Pittsburgh won 5-2.
On Wednesday, the Penguins' Twitter account honored those who helped fill the venue to the allowed 15% capacity for the interstate clash:
Users quickly spotted that somebody had doctored the original photo to add masks to individuals who either weren't wearing face coverings or had them below noses and mouths:
The Penguins have since admitted to Joshua Rhett Miller of the New York Post that a "perhaps well-intended" staff member purposely altered and shared the picture and has been somehow punished. The nature of the discipline wasn't disclosed.
"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," the Penguins said in a statement shared by the Post. "We have adopted a zero-tolerance policy, and our arena staff have roving teams to enforce during home games."
The Penguins added:
"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 controversy comes at the same time that Penguins superstar and captain Sidney Crosby is set to miss a second straight game while on the NHL's COVID-19 protocols list. It's not yet known if the three-time Stanley Cup champion tested positive for the coronavirus or was deemed a high-risk close contact.
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