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Sports team mascots that are dubbed as “offensive” are being “cancelled” left and right these days, but Notre Dame is not about to let their beloved leprechaun mascot go without a fight. 

Survey Dubs Notre Dame Mascot Offensive

Notre Dame showed exactly why they are known as the Fighting Irish this week when they issued a blistering defense of their leprechaun mascot after it was named as one of the most offensive mascots in the United States in a survey carried out by the Quality Logo Products Blog.

The survey found that the leprechaun mascot was the fourth most offensive one in the country behind Hawaii’s Vili the Warrior, San Diego State’s Aztec Warrior and Florida State’s Osceola and Renegade.

Related: Cleveland Indians Fans Outraged By Team’s Name Change

Notre Dame Fires Back

Notre Dame, however, was not having any of it. The school hit back in a fiery statement issued to the Indy Star:

“It is worth noting … that there is no comparison between Notre Dame’s nickname and mascot and the Indian and warrior names (and) mascots used by other institutions such as the NFL team formerly known as the Redskins,” the school said. “None of these institutions were founded or named by Native Americans who sought to highlight their heritage by using names and symbols associated with their people.”

“Our symbols stand as celebratory representations of a genuine Irish heritage at Notre Dame a heritage that we regard with respect, loyalty and affection,” Notre Dame added. 

Notre Dame Leprechauns Under Fire For Years

Notre Dame’s leprechaun mascot first came under fire in 2018, when ESPN’s Max Kellerman called on the school to do away with it. 

“Many Irish-Americans are not offended, but many are,” Kellerman told the Wall Street Journal at the time. “Should that also change? The answer is yes. Unequivocally yes. Pernicious, negative stereotypes of marginalized people that offend, even some among them, should be changed.”

In the years since then, the Washington Football Team has ceased to become known as The Redskins, and the Cleveland Indians have announced plans to become The Guardians next season, according to Fox News.

The Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Braves have also faced pressure to drop their names and mascots because they have “offensive” links to Native Americans.

So far, these teams have stayed strong and not given any indication that they will be changing their names.

That may be coming, however, given the fact that the Chiefs have dropped their horse, Warpaint, and the Braves no longer allow fans to do the tomahawk chop. 

Related: Washington Football Team Trades Cheerleaders For Gender Neutral Dance Team

This Nonsense Needs To End

Frankly, anyone who wastes their time being “offended” by a sports team name or their mascot has way too much time on their hands. There are far bigger things to be worried about right now than this kind of nonsense.

We applaud Notre Dame for standing by their mascot and refusing to submit to some offended snowflakes. Here’s hoping they continue to stand by their leprechaun, and never drop the mascot in the future! 

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