In this photo taken Monday May 21, 2018, Bay Area Sports Hall of Hame inductee Brandi Chastain poses by her plaque during a press conference in San Francisco. Social media is finding little to like about the likeness on a plaque honoring retired soccer champion Chastain. The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in San Francisco unveiled the plaque on Monday night. Chastain diplomatically said “it’s not the most flattering. But it’s nice.” (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
SAN FRANCISCO — A bronze plaque honoring soccer star Brandi Chastain got a red card Tuesday after a social media outcry over its unflattering portrayal of the athlete.
The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in San Francisco said Tuesday it will redo the plaque, which was unveiled a day earlier and quickly panned by the public.
Fans on Twitter compared the likeness to former President Jimmy Carter, actors Gary Busey and Mickey Rooney, baseball player Babe Ruth, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and movie character Mrs. Doubtfire, played by Robin Williams.
Chastain is often remembered for ripping off her jersey in celebration of her game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 World Cup.
In this photo taken Monday May 21, 2018, Bay Area Sports Hall of Hame inductee Brandi Chastain’s plaque is displayed during a press conference in San Francisco. Social media is finding little to like about the likeness on a plaque honoring retired soccer champion Chastain. The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in San Francisco unveiled the plaque on Monday night. Chastain diplomatically said “it’s not the most flattering. But it’s nice.” (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)
Chastain attended the unveiling of her plaque at a San Francisco hotel Monday night and graciously commented, “It’s not the most flattering. But it’s nice,” according to The Mercury News of San Jose.
Hall of Fame president Kevin O’Brien told KTVU-TV that he spoke with Chastain on Tuesday and offered to redo the plaque if she sent in a new photograph of herself. She agreed and a new plaque will be made, O’Brien said.
“It’s expensive,” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.”