WRIGLEY FIELD — In the week since rape allegations surfaced against Chicago Blackhawks star Patrick Kane, sports fans are torn about whether to keep wearing their Kane jerseys.
Though Kane has not been charged with any crime as of Thursday, vendors around Wrigley Field say locals have been expressing outrage over some of the Kane merchandise that seems inappropriate given the circumstances.
T-shirts lauding Kane after the team's Stanley Cup win were still sprinkled among vendors at Wrigley Field Thursday. Some had his name fashioned like the DARE logo, while others applauded that time "We Kane, We Shaw, We Crawford."
One shirt in particular, though, has fans taken aback, offended by the message that "Kane made me do it," which could be taken as a mocking message amid the rape investigation.
BTW, they are selling this shirt around Wrigley. And they really should stop. pic.twitter.com/nS2jFSf6UC
— Rashawn Franklin (@RashawnFranklin) August 13, 2015
Probably not the best idea for a Patrick Kane shirt 😁 pic.twitter.com/7SaL9Jgyjp
— Samuel (@samsauder) August 13, 2015
The shirt is a play off the "Whiskey made me do it" shirt, said George, a vendor selling the $20 shirt who declined to give his last name. He's been selling the Kane version for almost two months, long before the Aug. 2 sexual assault allegations came out.
"It ended up later that he's in trouble, and people are giving us a little heat as they're walking by. But it wasn't made for that purpose," George told DNAinfo Chicago.
The vendors, who work as independent contractors, typically buy shirts in bulk after seeing what is selling best in the early season, explained Richard Wells, a T-shirt vendor for more than seven years.
"I look for the most creative shirts, but it depends on the crowd and what other team is in [season]," said Wells, who joined George at the corner in front of The Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., on Thursday, but wasn't selling the Kane shirt.
Once the shirts are paid for, the vendors have little choice but to try to sell what they have in stock, or they risk taking a loss.
There are a few reasons they'll stop selling a specific shirt, Wells said. Sometimes police or league officials will demand offensive shirts are taken down, and that's when vendors can risk legal trouble if they keep selling it.
But when it came to a "Smoking Jay Cutler" shirt — based off a popular meme — not even Kristin Cavallari, Cutler's wife, could get Wells to back down.
"Kristen Cavallari flipped out in front of The Cubby Bear and told me, 'I don't think my husband would like that very much,'" Wells said of the shirt. "I told her he could come tell me that himself, and his people kept coming by to yell at me, but he never came out."
Chicagoans have taken to Twitter this week to discuss their indecision surrounding Kane apparel:
Almost just went to dinner in a Patrick Kane shirt, then realized that's something I probably should not do right now.
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) August 11, 2015
*me wearing Blackhawks shirt* Guy to me: "Hey, it's a Patrick Kane fan. Try not to rape anyone today okay?" I had no words.
— Emma (@triona05) August 8, 2015
I initially planned to wear a Hawks shirt to work but since we've got a company party, I don't want random coworkers asking me about Kane.
— Amanda♔♔♔ (@Lets_Go_Hawks) August 7, 2015
Kane is facing backlash in other areas, too. On Wednesday, EA Sports announced it would not feature Kane on the cover of NHL 16 or retain him as a spokesman.
Official statement regarding Patrick Kane. pic.twitter.com/MVurUYOHT8
— EA SPORTS NHL (@EASPORTSNHL) August 12, 2015
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