Noting Woods' "replacement theory" garbage on Twitter, the Celtic fullback would respond:
"What if I told you that myself and the other two ‘white’ players pictured here are the sons of immigrants as well? This is Canada. Our strength is in our diversity and it is what makes our country so special - not tragic." tweeted Celtic and Canadian Men's National Soccer team player Alistair Johnston after racist Keith Woods bemoaned the fact that Canada has more Black players than twenty years ago. As of this writing, his tweet has garnered over 120,000 likes.
Keith Woods has been called the most significant “rising star” in the current far-right. Woods rages across many platforms and was recently allowed back on Twitter by Elon Musk. He espouses White Nationalism and has appeared on podcasts hosted by members of antisemitic pro-Hitler groups, as well as with Nick Fuentes and other undesirable people like Trump lawyer, Jenna Ellis. He describes himself as a "raging antisemite."
Source: BBC
Celtic full-back Alistair Johnston says Canada's "strength is in our diversity" as he hit back at a derogatory online comment.
A social media post from Keith Woods, an Irish-based 'writer, content creator and activist', posted photos of the Canada teams in 2000 and 2024 with the message: "So tragic. Few countries are undergoing population replacement as rapidly as Canada."
Johnston responded: "What if I told you that myself and the other two ‘white’ players pictured here are the sons of immigrants as well?
"This is Canada. Our strength is in our diversity and it is what makes our country so special - not tragic."
It comes after Canada Soccer - the national team's governing body - said one of their players - believed to be Moise Bombito - was subjected to online racist abuse after the defeat by Argentina in the Copa America opener.
Johnston's Scottish club Celtic put out a statement backing him 100%:
Johnston’s retort highlights an essential truth about Canadian identity: it is a nation built on the contributions of immigrants from all backgrounds. His words reflect a broader sentiment that Canada’s multiculturalism is a source of strength, not a point of division.
The comment that provoked Johnston’s response is an example of the growing trend of using social media to stoke racial and cultural divisions. Such remarks are not just ignorant but also detrimental to the inclusive ethos that nations like Canada strive to uphold. Johnston’s rebuttal serves as a reminder of the importance of unity and acceptance in the face of attempts to undermine these values. The colour of your skin should never be the issue but the content of your character.
The Celtic star’s stance has garnered widespread support from fans. His words will resonate with many who believe in the importance of diversity and inclusion, both in sports and society.
Johnston's reply to the hatemonger.
Others picked up on this and called Woods out with stronger terms.
