Ex-Leaf Nazem Kadri's wife posts disturbing racist threats; cops investigating
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Former Maple Leafs star Nazem Kadri’s wife has taken to social media and is sharing some of the sickening racist messages targeting the forward and his family.
And now cops in St. Louis are investigating.
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Ex-Leaf Nazem Kadri's wife posts disturbing racist threats; cops investigating Back to video
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The torrent of hatred came following Kadri’s team, the Colorado Avalanche, sinking the St. Louis Blues 6-3 on Monday night. The win gave the Avs a 3-1 lead in the Western Conference series.
Kadri – of Lebanese descent – collided with Blues goaltender Jordan Binnington in Game 3. Binnington was scratched for the rest of the series with a lower-body injury.
Kadri’s wife Ashley posted on social media, attaching the bile-packed messages: “Great game tonight, very proud of Nazem. But I want to shine light on what the last 48 hours has looked like for us as a family.”
It is Kadri’s Muslim faith that was targeted. She called the hateful missives “just a small example”.
“This behavior doesn’t belong in sports, or anywhere. If you are not condemning racism, then you are tolerating it,” she wrote. “Praying for the world to be a better place with more love and less hate.”
Now, the NHL and cops are working to hunt down the perpetrators of the threats against Kadri. In Game 4 in St. Louis, there was a heavy police presence.
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“I know that they’re booing me and whatnot, but that’s what being a fan is,” Kadri said. “As a home team and a home player, you want the fans on your side and heckling the other team, as long as it’s within the guidelines. I’ve got no issues with that and I know what was said isn’t a reflection on every single fan in St. Louis. I understand that and I want to make that clear. But for those that wasted their time sending messages like that, I feel sorry for them.”
According to the New York Post, former pro Akim Aliu wrote on Twitter he and Kadri talked about the player’s “inadvertent” crash with Binnington.
“Naz has been subject to so many racist attacks and threats since last night that police had to be brought in,” Aliu said. “Racist attacks like this have no place in hockey and should be investigated and reported on.”
Adding fuel to the fire was Kadri racking up a hat trick in Game 4. Blues coach Craig Berube has complained about Kadri’s “reputation”.
On Tuesday, he was mum on the situation.
Berube said: “I don’t comment on that stuff.”
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