Throwback: When Wayne Gretzky became a victim of a scam with a fake arrest story that went viral

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Mar 19, 2025, 20:24 IST

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NHL legend Wayne Gretzky is criticized for not supporting Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face Off's final match. He faced backlash for allegedly supporting Team USA and a fake arrest scam. Gretzky has remained silent on these issues. His wife defended him publicly but was trolled. A statement from him is awaited.

Throwback: When Wayne Gretzky became a victim of a scam with a fake arrest story that went viral

Image via Ryan Remiorz/CP

Wayne Gretzky, the NHL legend, has stayed out of the spotlight ever since he found himself involved in a huge controversy where fans have blamed him for not supporting Team Canada at the 4 Nations Face Off’s final match against Team USA. But this isn't the first time that the NHL legend has found himself in a controversy; a few years ago he unwillingly became a target of a scam too.

When Wayne Gretzky Became A Target Of A Scam That Published A Fake Story Of His Arrest

A few months ago, Wayne Gretzky became a victim of a scam where his pictures were used for clickbait news. In August 2024, a few articles went viral on X which carried Wayne Gretzky’s pictures on them.

But it was not just Wayne Gretzky’s pictures that shocked his fans; this clickbait news carried false headlines and pictures of him being arrested.
The fake pictures of Wayne Gretzky “being arrested” had gone viral. The fake pictures showed the NHL legend wearing a blue jacket and looking agitated as he was handcuffed behind and accompanied by police authorities.
However, Wayne Gretzky never addressed or issued a statement regarding being a victim to a scam that could lure thousands of his fans on unverified sites.
Currently, with all the controversies that has been going around him, the NHL legend has maintained silence over it. His children too have not addressed the issue in public.
Wayne Gretzky’s wife, famous actress Janet Jones, have defended him in public but has gotten trolled in return.
For the unversed, the controversy surrounding Wayne Gretzky began on the day of the 4 Nations Face Off’s final match between Team USA and Team Canada. As per reports, Wayne Gretzky did not wear the Canadian jersey that he was meant to wear for Team Canada.
Apparently, the NHL legend also “smiled” and showed a “thumbs up” to Team USA which sparked conversations of him supporting Team USA rather than being there for Team Canada. Wayne Gretzky has faced huge backlash from fans as many accused him of supporting Donald Trump and not his own country.
A statement from him is awaited where he addresses this issue.
Also Read: Wayne Gretzky’s daughter Paulina Gretzky breaks silence and shares a life update amidst her father getting brutally trolled

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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