The razzle-dazzle around canceling Kurt Zouma might not be dying any time soon. Instead, it has tipped over to reawaken the #BlackLivesMatter (BLM) movement.
The Westham defender has been at the center of a news storm after a video of him kicking his pet cat went viral on Monday (07.02.2022). As online reactions swell up, Zouma has been dragged in diatribe, and labeled an animal abuser. The punishment came and it has been harsh, and served as a deterrent example to animal abusers.
Things have take a different turn and Zouma’s brother, Lionel who is a professional footballer has been banned from his club Dagenham and Redbridge for filming the incident.
As reported by The Sauce, Adidas swiftly revoked their sponsorship deal with the player, an action that backfired against them and the bigger establishment with many fans citing the manufacturer’s double-standards.
Fellow Westham United player Michail Antonio has come to the defence of Zouma and challenged the harsh punishment his teammate has received.
Parallels have since been drawn and ghosts of the past are being revisted. Online users recall that there are viler actions whose doers have escaped with a slap on the wrist or entirely made away with. For example, Adidas renewed their partnership in 2011 when Luiz Suarez for example was convicted of racism against black people.
Others have compared Zouma’s actions to sport hunting often done by white tourists. Scores have also taken fault with the shoe manufacturer as an arbiter of animal rights when ironically, it uses Kangaroo skins to make sneakers.
Since cancel culture is erratic and nonlinear, it has awoken a sleeping giant – Black Lives Matter and seems like it is not a conversation that will die out anytime soon.
