Soccer star Megan Rapinoe announced on her Instagram on Jun. 17 that she would become one of the new ambassadors of Victoria's Secret.
Fans everywhere were overjoyed that the popular store chain would choose Rapinoe, especially since she's idolized by female athletes everywhere, and represents a huge step forward in lesbian representation. However, that all changed after the soccer player's decade-old tweet resurfaced.
Fans on Twitter reacted harshly to the tweet due to the rise in racism against the Asian community since the onset of the pandemic. @tasha_kai00 is the former account of Natasha Kai, a former Olympian and professional soccer player of Caucasian, Filipino, Chinese, and Hawaiian descent.
It is unclear how the tweet first resurfaced, and whether or not someone brought it back due to recent backlash over the chain's choice to have Rapinoe become an ambassador.
Some fans are now angry at the soccer player, and are angry at Victoria's Secret for choosing her to represent them.
Neither Rapinoe nor Victoria's Secret have yet to comment on the matter as of this publication. If the retailer decides to keep her as an ambassador, she will continue to be part of The VS Collective, which also includes actress Priyanka Chopra-Jonas and transgender model Valentina Sampaio.
The retailer will be replacing the Victoria's Secret Angels with The VS Collective, to rebrand and make customers feel better represented. They've chosen women for their collective who are passionate about creating positive change, and strive to continue to make our world a better place.
Rapinoe has made a name for herself in the athletic community, playing as a forward for the US Women's National Soccer Team (USWNT) since 2006. She has since won an Olympic gold medal, in 2012, and two FIFA World Cups, in 2015 and 2019.
Other than the USWNT, she also plays for the OL Reign, serving as a co-captain with her USWNT teammate Lauren Barnes.
Outside of athletics, Rapinoe has been endorsed by companies such as Hulu, Nike, and Samsung, and has appeared in various commercials for the companies that endorse her. Her most recent commercial is for Subway.
The athlete has never been shy in talking about her sexual orientation, and has been an advocate for LGBT organizations such as the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network and Athlete Ally. This work and more led her to be included in Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2020.
In addition to all the work she's put into her athletic abilities and philanthropic work, Rapinoe also gained attention after standing in silence for the national anthem in 2015. She later gained national attention for kneeling during the national anthem in 2016 in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick.
Outside of Victoria's Secret, Rapinoe is currently participating in this season of the USWNT. The team is currently at 9-1-0, with their next game scheduled on Jul. 1. They are scheduled to participate in the 2021 Summer Olympics, which will begin on Jul. 23.