Canadian speedskater Brittany Schussler was just trying to be funny when she posted a selfie with Russian president Vladimir Putin on Twitter, saying she should have asked him to be her valentine.
Just one problem: The folks on Twitter weren't laughing.
After a barrage of tweets from LBGT advocates taking her to task for posing with Putin, Schussler removed the tweet, but the damage was done.
Putin and the Russian government have been roundly criticized for their anti-gay stance leading up to and during the Sochi Games.
Here's a taste of some of the criticism lobbed at Schussler (and the photo that sparked it all):
Not everybody was out to get Schussler though. Here are some messages of support (or ambivalence) after the story broke:
Speedskater Brittany Schussler is an idiot - what an embarrassment to Canada pic.twitter.com/V497Ea3A9y
— Dean Skoreyko (@bcbluecon) February 16, 2014
@c_9 It was only a joke + I never want to offend anyone so theres no harm in deleting it. I believe everyone should live their lives freely
— Brittany Schussler (@bschussler) February 15, 2014
Looks like Schussler has deleted this tweet from her timeline ... Nobody should support Putin in any form. pic.twitter.com/yHUDvZo60i
— Sierra Rayne (@rayne_sierra) February 15, 2014
@bschussler @WinnipegNews I find hanging out with dictators who persecute lgbt folk hilarious! You owe so many an apology. Get informed
— roy bruno mitchell (@roybruno) February 15, 2014
@bschussler @WinnipegNews your joke was in poor taste & disrespectful of all the lives lost & continued intolerance because of Putin. Shame.
— K McCallum (@thenthereskeith) February 15, 2014
Let's all get hysterical over a selfie: Brittany Schussler blasted for Vladimir Putin pic http://t.co/L7nUvttel0
— Ted Bird (@manofbird) February 17, 2014
are the folks upset at Schussler's selfie with Putin just as guilty of intolerance as the people they believe are intolerant? #thinkpeople
— EmileM (@emilapedia) February 17, 2014
Skating legend Stojko jumps to Schussler's defence http://t.co/v1ujiw8rpn
— Winnipeg Free Press (@WinnipegNews) February 17, 2014
