Americans sometimes forget that they live in the only country on the planet with free speech written into its laws as a right. It’s literally part of the First Amendment, and it’s first for a reason. However, in other nations, you can become the subject of an investigation simply for disagreeing with the way a Prime Minister frames a situation, which is what’s literally happening in Ireland right now.
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) all-time great Conor McGregor is reportedly being investigated by “government authorities” for “online hate speech” after he made critical remarks about Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar’s framing of a 9-year-old Irish girl’s release by Hamas, as she was a hostage of the terrorist organization.
For context, Varadkar tweeted that 9-year-old Emily Hand was a child “who was lost” and “has now been found and returned.”
McGregor took exception to Varadkar’s characterization of the situation, going so far as to call the Prime Minister a “disgrace.”
“Se was abducted by an evil terrorist organization,” McGregor wrote. “What is with you and your government and your paid for media affiliates constantly down playing/attempting to repress horrific acts that happen to children. You are a disgrace. The day after a stabbing of children in Ireland, NOT ONE PAPER HAD IT ON THEIR FRONT COVER. We will not forget.”
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Even Twitter/X posted a “Readers added context” community note on Varadkar’s initial tweet, saying, “The use of the term lost is inappropriate and fails to highlight that she was released as part of a hostage deal.”
Here's a screenshot of Twitter/X interaction just in case the post in deleted for whatever reason:
Breitbart noted that The Sunday Times reported McGregor is now being investigated for “online hate speech” by “government authorities,” even writing the McGregor “has become a hero of the far right.”
Apparently, according to The Times, it’s “far right” to call the release of hostage by a terrorist organization for what it is. Although, it probably didn’t help McGregor’s cause to call Varadkar a “disgrace” even though he’s correct for the cowardly way the Prime Minister “framed” the situation.
Maybe McGregor should challenge Varadkar to enter the octagon and try his luck there.