The LA Kings have been forced to apologize for an embarrassing gaffe after the team sold scarves made in Turkey during the team’s Armenian Heritage Night last month.
Neighboring Armenia and Turkey are historic enemies stemming from the deaths of an estimated 1.5 million Armenians in massacres, deportations and forced marches that began in 1915 in Ottoman Turkey, which historians view as a genocide (Turkey vehemently rejects the label).
Nonetheless, local members of the Armenian community were offered the chance to buy scarves manufactured in Turkey, which one X user called a ‘geopolitical faux pas.’
‘PR disaster… could’ve been avoided by hiring one single person of Armenian descent on oversight,’ another said.
‘the disrespect is crazy. i mean, cmon,’ a third added.
In a statement offered on Saturday the Kings apologized for the ‘oversight’ and said they were unaware that the items were made in Turkey.
The LA Kings apologized for an ‘oversight’ during their Armenian Heritage Night
Performers dance on Armenian Heritage Night during the first period between the Utah Hockey Club and the Los Angeles Kings on February 22
‘We, the LA Kings and our partners at Rank & Rally want to sincerely apologize to all our friends in the Armenian Community and beyond for the oversight that may have inadvertently impacted your experience during what should’ve been a joyous celebration,’ the Kings said.
‘We source, stock and sell merchandise from a select list of manufacturers that are officially licensed by the league, and we were unaware of the item’s production origin.’
The Kings are offering full refunds or exchanges in person or by mail for anyone who purchased the scarf at the TEAM LA store.
Armenian Heritage Night was Feb. 22 and is an annual event.
