NEW YORK — NHL commissioner Gary Bettman doesn’t believe Winnipeg Jets fans were being “sexist in the slightest” by comparing Anaheim Ducks forward Corey Perry to pop singer Katy Perry.
Bettman likened the chants to goalies being called “sieves.” The commissioner was in Winnipeg on Monday night for the chants during Game 3 of the first-round playoff series.
When reminded sieves don’t have feelings, Bettman accepted that point, before adding he didn’t believe Katy Perry was “particularly upset by that chant.”
The exchange took place at NHL headquarters Friday during Bettman’s annual meeting with Associated Press Sports Editors.
Bettman said it’s “overly literal” to call the chants sexist. Without providing numbers, he said the NHL has a greater percentage of female fans than do the other major sports.
Thumbnail photo via Geoff Burke/USA TODAY Sports Images
