A video showing the U.S. women’s national soccer team letting an American flag drop to the ground while celebrating their World Cup win has gone viral, sparking a backlash against the player who appeared to let the flag drop, and praise for the player who rushed to pick it up.
The team won the World Cup on July 7 for the second time in a row. Fueled by excitement over the win, players celebrated on the field.
One player holding a flag dropped it in order to participate in a specific celebration with captain Megan Rapinoe and another teammate. Allie Long, the player, was holding the flag in both of her hands as Rapinoe got close to her and appeared to push the flag away.
Long transferred the flag to her left hand, then back to the right, before letting it drop to the ground.
@ALLIE_LONG I understand the excitement of the moment, but please NEVER disrespect the ???????? flag by dropping it on the ground! pic.twitter.com/OdPJqAP6r4
— Poetic Spaniard (@PoeticSpaniard) July 7, 2019
Another player rushed to grab the flag off the ground as Rapinoe, Long, and a third player faced fans and celebrated.
That player was identified as Kelley O’Hara.
Some social media users praised O’Hara while criticizing Rapinoe and Long.
“Glad Kelley O’Hara knows the do’s and do not’s of the American flag and was around to grab it after it was casually dropped on the ground for a dance. Thank you for being alert,” wrote one user.
“Kelley, you’re the Hero we needed,” added another.
Glad Kelley O’Hara knows the do’s and do not’s of the American flag and was around to grab it after it was casually dropped on the ground for a dance. Thank you for being alert!
— Jeremy Ballew (@jballew_horns26) July 8, 2019
@ALLIE_LONG with the #fail and @kelleymohara with the American Flag save!
Kelley, you’re the Hero we needed.????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????#Respect pic.twitter.com/aemKL3OAm6
— Andrew Jensen (@EightyJ) July 7, 2019
*refuses to go to the white house*
*throws flag on the ground*
props to their teammate for picking it up. pic.twitter.com/PRG8i2BfUy
— Caleb Hull (@CalebJHull) July 7, 2019
Among those criticizing letting the flag drop to the ground was Navy SEAL Jonathan Gilliam and John Tiegen, a U.S. Marine who survived the 2012 Benghazi attack.
“You should be disturbed by this unpatriotic narcissistic behavior. Megan Rapinoe is neither a hero or a role model. I rewound and watched the entire celebration on the field. Rapinoe didn’t want anything to do with an #Americanflag before she stomped it,” Gilliam wrote.
“What should be an amazing occurence, is hijacked by the clown show to promote disrespect. So brave,” added Tiegen.
You should be disturbed by this unpatriotic narcissistic behavior. @mPinoe is neither a hero or a role model. I rewound and watched the entire celebration on the field. Rapinoe didn’t want anything to do with an #Americanflag before she stomped it. #repulsive pic.twitter.com/Kevbe7jJYt
— Jonathan T Gilliam (@JGilliam_SEAL) July 7, 2019
“I know you gave a brief to the girls on proper flag etiquette. Allie Long, I know dragging it on the ground and throwing it down like it’s a piece of paper isn’t part of that. It’s not hard to hand it off and celebrate,” he added.
“Your coaching staff or trainers are there to take it. Damn Amazing disrespect for a photo op. Thank you to I think Kelley O’Hara for running in there and picking it up.”