Blue Wiggle Anthony Field divides parents with his anti-Donald Trump stance – as some support him while others urge him to ‘stay out of politics’
As the longest-serving member of children’s group the Wiggles, Anthony Field isn’t exactly known for his social and political commentary.
But on Monday, the 57-year-old took at swipe at President Donald Trump’s poorly-attended rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that took place over the weekend – sparking a mixed reaction from parents in Australia and the United States.
Some praised him for speaking out while others said he should ‘stay out of politics’ and focus on entertaining kids.
Controversy: On Monday, Blue Wiggle Anthony Field (pictured) took at swipe at President Donald Trump’s poorly-attended rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, that took place over the weekend – sparking a mixed reaction from parents in Australia and the United States
The controversy started when Anthony retweeted a side-by-side photo comparison of the BOK Center during Trump’s rally and a Wiggles concert at the same venue in 2009.
While the Wiggles sold out the 19,000-seat venue, the political rally was attended by just 6,200 supporters.
Anthony captioned his retweet with the cheeky comment: ‘To be fair, we had a better light show!’
Tweet: The controversy began when Anthony retweeted this side-by-side photo comparison of the BOK Center during Trump’s rally and a Wiggles concert at the same venue in 2009
His comparison left thousands in stitches, and one mother even responded: ‘So fruit salad got a better reception than one lone angry orange. Who’d a thunk?’
Another added: ‘To be fair a Wiggles show is put on for children, while a MAGA rally is put on by a child.’
‘Imagine being so internationally hated that even the Wiggles throw shade at you,’ a third fan wrote.
Support: His comparison left thousands in stitches, and one mother even responded: ‘So fruit salad got a better reception than one lone angry orange. Who’d a thunk?’
But not everyone enjoyed the joke, as some suggested that Anthony wasn’t the right person to be making political statements.
‘You’re not teaching a good example to children about respect, regardless of whether you like the person or not,’ one critic wrote online.
‘Just sing your little songs and keep politics out of it,’ another added, while a third commented: ‘Must every performer/band/ celebrity comment on politics?’
bad role models? Not everyone was impressed though with other parents saying Anthony wasn’t being a good role model to the millions of children who look up to the popular group and others saying the wiggles should ‘keep out of politics’ (Pictured left to right Anthony Field, Emma Watkins, Simon Pryce and Lachlan Gillespie).
The Wiggles formed in 1991 in Sydney, Australia, but are popular around the world.
The group’s current members are Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, and Emma Watkins.
Ahead of Trump’s rally on Saturday, he and his campaign manager Brad Parscale bragged that one million tickets had been requested.
Claims: Ahead of Trump’s rally on Saturday, Trump (pictured) and his campaign manager Brad Parscale bragged that one million tickets had been requested
However, the 19,000-seat BOK Center had just 6,200 people in attendance on the night, according to Tulsa officials.
The high number of requests led the campaign to plan for an outdoor event to handle the expected overflow of the crowd – only to have to cancel it at the last minute when people did not show up.
Trump’s campaign has privately admitted that as many as 300,000 of the people who signed up for Saturday’s rally in Tulsa were online tricksters.
Foiled: Trump’s campaign has privately admitted that as many as 300,000 of the people who signed up for Saturday’s rally in Tulsa were online tricksters