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Wasps bound All Black flyhalf Lima Sopoaga has courted controversy online after tweeting a number of bizarre observations about the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
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The tragic blaze broke out on June 14th, 2017 in the 24-storey Grenfell Tower block of public housing flats in West London.
It left 72 of the buiding’s 293 inhabitants dead.
The 16 times capped All Black was watching a documentary on the fire before issuing a series of clumsy and provocative tweets.
“Anyone else watching this grenfell tower documentary on TV1. #sosad”
Anyone else watching this grenfell tower documentary on TV1. #SoSad
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) June 24, 2018
His next tweets were more cryptic however, with the Highlanders’ pivot making a comparison between the London fire and 911, and comparing the cost of the Royal Wedding to how much was spent in the aftermath of the tragedy by the UK government.
“So they had money for a royal wedding but no money to help the people of grenfell tower? The Fs up with that!”
So they had money for a royal wedding but no money to help the people of grenfell tower? The Fs up with that!
— Lima Sopoaga (@LimaSopoaga) June 24, 2018
“Makes you think that if grenfell burned for a few days and never collapsed. How did the twin towers collapse because of a fire?
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https://twitter.com/LimaSopoaga/status/1010823573332619265
Understandably many Tweeters were quick to correct the All Black and challenge him on his apparently careless tweets.
Greenfell didn't have a plane hit it first…
— Raggs (@rugbydantasman) June 24, 2018
Best you just stick to thinking about winning your next cap. Leave thinking about serious issues to people with the I.Q of more than a rocking horse.🙄 #Buffoon
— Russ Gardner🏴#IndyWales (@RussGardner13) June 24, 2018
— Pappa (@pappabearhbc) June 24, 2018
https://twitter.com/IronWasp1961/status/1010846046765895681
Stay out of British politics until you know your facts Lima… pic.twitter.com/Cm6cv29qi5
— RugbyInsideLine (@RugbyInsideLine) June 24, 2018
It’s not the first time Lima has courted controversy on social media. The All Black got into a bust-up with fans after apparently criticising an NBA player.
The NBA star JR Smith posted a hypothetical scenario on Instagram, asking his followers what would they do if they found a truck full of cash with your child and the driver of the truck deceased.
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Smith captioned that his child would have said “Daddy get that side i got this side” to which Lima Sopoaga replied, “Daddy will all this money buy you a jump shot to help LBJ in the finals?”
The Cleveland Cavaliers have been a one-man band in the NBA playoffs with many commentators criticising the team for performing poorly providing little to no help to Lebron James. The trolling by Sopoaga triggered a wave of angry NBA fans, unaware of who he was.
Wasps are confirmed Sopoaga will be joining them for the 2018/19 season following his Super Rugby commitments with the Highlanders.
The 26-year-old has 16 caps and has scored 55 test points since making his All Blacks debut against South Africa in July 2015.
