Plaque of soccer star Brandi Chastain looks nothing like her
May 22, 2018 - 1:54 pm
Updated May 22, 2018 - 3:37 pm
SAN FRANCISCO — A bronze plaque honoring soccer star Brandi Chastain got a red card Tuesday after a social media outcry over its unflattering portrayal of the athlete.
The Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame in San Francisco said Tuesday it will redo the plaque, which was unveiled a day earlier and quickly panned by the public.
Fans on Twitter compared the likeness to former President Jimmy Carter, actors Gary Busey and Mickey Rooney, baseball player Babe Ruth, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick and movie character Mrs. Doubtfire, played by Robin Williams.
I'm convinced they used Gary Busey as the model for Brandi Chastain's plaque: pic.twitter.com/b899je3Aym
— Alex Gelhar (@AlexGelhar) May 22, 2018
I don't know about Brandi Chastain, but they nailed Mickey Rooney. pic.twitter.com/wfSb7irMbx
— Jason Davis, The ⚽📻 Maker (@davisjsn) May 22, 2018
Big congrats to Jerry/Larry/Gary Gergich for his admission into the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame #ParksandRec #brandichastain pic.twitter.com/tv2NImXhIr
— Ziggy (@BarnBurnerZiggy) May 22, 2018
Chastain is often remembered for ripping off her jersey in celebration of her game-winning penalty kick in the 1999 World Cup.
Chastain attended the unveiling of her plaque at a San Francisco hotel Monday night and graciously commented, “It’s not the most flattering. But it’s nice,” according to The Mercury News of San Jose.
Hall of Fame president Kevin O’Brien told KTVU-TV that he spoke with Chastain on Tuesday and offered to redo the plaque if she sent in a new photograph of herself. She agreed and a new plaque will be made, O’Brien said.
“It’s expensive,” he said. “But it’s the right thing to do.”