A performer who plays the Tampa Bay Lightning's ThunderBug mascot was fired by the team a week after spraying Silly String on a Boston Bruins fan during a game.
The team said it did not condone the performer's actions, which caused a kerfuffle in the crowd and led to the fan being briefly removed from his seat.
Lightning spokesman Bill Wickett said the performer was not necessarily fired over that incident but added, "We don't believe the mascot's behavior that evening was appropriate."
The name of the performer was not released. Others don the outfit, Wickett said, and the mascot was roaming the crowd at the Forum during Tuesday night's victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets.
The performer who was let go was not a full-time employee, Wickett said. She was the primary performer who for a couple of years created antics that endeared the character to Lightning fans.
A Facebook page entitled "Save Tampa Bay Lightning's ThunderBug's Job" was created and is flush with comments about the incident that occurred at the Bruins game.
A YouTube video shot from the stands that night showed ThunderBug spraying Silly String on the seated fan and the fan getting up and pushing the mascot in the aisle. Security personnel were there in an instant, and the fan was escorted up the steps as Lightning fans and ThunderBug waved goodbye and pointed to the exit.
As the fan walked up the aisle, he confronted ThunderBug and turned around to yell at the crowd. The fan was allowed to return later in the game.
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