The Atlanta Falcons showed off a retro team symbol on their social media platforms this week, sparking backlash across social media from fans who said the image bore an uncomfortable resemblance to World War II-era German Nazi imagery.
\n\nRed, white and black stripes adorned the familiar Falcons logo on the team’s Instagram and X accounts Wednesday.
\n\nIt was called “New PFP” on X, shorthand for “new profile picture.”
\n\nA team representative, reached late Thursday afternoon, said the Falcons do not have a “new logo” and declined any further comment.
\n\nThe Reichskriegsflagge-like imagery triggered a wave of taste-challenged World War II-themed comments and jokes on the Falcons’ social media pages.
\n\nThe artwork appeared to be an ill-advised effort to honor the expansion 1966 Atlanta Falcons.
\n\nThe Falcons next take the field Sunday, welcoming the San Francisco 49ers to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in an old-school NFC West showdown in which Atlanta is set to wear throwback threads.
\n\n“Absolutely there was no ill intent, and I can’t imagine in a million years the Atlanta Falcons would do something like” seeking Nazi alignment, sports logo historian Chris Creamer told NBC News on Thursday.
\n\n“It’s throwback weekend for the team, and the social media team just…
Original source: https://www.nbcnews.com/