Toronto Raptors fans are getting quite the reputation for their rather insensitive cheering whenever a player gets injured. That was highlighted once again when Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid was elbowed to the face in Game 6 of their first round playoff series.
Embiid was hit in the face late in the game, leading to cheers from the crowd. The broadcasters were then heard saying the Sixers star “deserved” it and that it was “karma.” The game was chippy and highly physical all game long, so many Raptors fans felt that the team got back at the Cameroonian for his antics.
The broadcast’s glee and the loud ovation from Raptors fans for this elbow to Joel Embiid… man.
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) April 30, 2022
However, all those celebrations and commentaries don't look so good now after it was revealed that Joel Embiid sustained a right orbital fracture and mild concussion as a result of the play. Many NBA fans then looked back at the elbow from Pascal Siakam and showed their disgust to how the home crowd reacted to the injury of the Sixers star.
Wtf is wrong with those broadcasters bro https://t.co/c6znzXKXEc
— Will Rucker (@Will_Rucker3_AD) April 29, 2022
Raptors fans are everything the media wants Philly fans to be.
— Absolutely Hammered (@AH_Pod) April 30, 2022
It’s more than a little weird to me that some Raptors fans keep saying “karma” about @JoelEmbiid’s orbital fracture. It was a hard fought, physical series – I wouldn’t have wanted Siakam hurt. Don’t be d!cks about a serious injury.
— Marlowe (@MarloweShort) April 30, 2022
Some even pointed out the recurring habit from Raptors fans. To recall, when Kevin Durant sustained an Achilles injury in 2019 when he was still with the Golden State Warriors, Toronto fans openly cheered for it. In fact, Embiid himself found the act disgusting and called out the fanbase on Twitter.
Toronto Raptors fans have now openly cheered both of these injuries
To say their resume as fans is suspect is pretty polite for a fan base that doesn’t really deserve an ounce of politeness pic.twitter.com/p2Thqc49mR
— A (@aidan_34_powers) April 30, 2022
Raptors announcer after Joel Embiid got elbowed in the face and broke his orbital bone in his eye and got a concussion “He got what he deserved” “karma” if his clown ass has a fkn job after that shit it’s embarrassing. Pathetic ass comment and dirty ass play.
— Will Rucker (@Will_Rucker3_AD) April 30, 2022
It's certainly not a good look for Raptors fans. While it's normal to see fans talk trash to their team's opponents and try to get into their heads, it's just plain wrong to be insensitive and celebrate a serious injury. Granted that Toronto supporters probably didn't know the extent of the issue at the time, but still, it'll be easy for them to hate on the opponent if it happened to their player and call it out for what seemed to be a dirty play.
Embiid is out indefinitely for the Sixers due to the injury, which is a massive blow to their playoff chances as they face the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference Semifinals.
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