Twitter Powerhouse Barnes tricks internet with bookmaker feud
Paddy Barnes sent social media into meltdown on Tuesday with an apparent feud with Irish bookmaking giant Paddy Power.
The double Olympic bronze medalist posted a photo of his new range of merchandise, only to receive a cease and desist letter from the bookmaker due to alleged copyright infringement.
Delighted to launch my range of sports gear for the Olympics!!!! Coming soon to a shop near you #paddyneedsdollar 💵💵 pic.twitter.com/NfCM1wQNBL
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) July 12, 2016
WTF @paddypower !!! What are ya doing to me? Fuck off with your letter. 🖕 Don’t need this training for Rio! pic.twitter.com/Lfx1sBxFqO
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) July 12, 2016
The two Paddys seemed to sort things out in private, however many people were still furious with the firm
@paddyb_ireland Glad we got it sorted Paddy. Looking forward to it! 👍🏻
— Paddy Power (@paddypower) July 13, 2016
Today it was revealed that it was a marketing stunt all along, and that Paddy Power will be sponsoring the Rio gold medal favourite ahead of the Games.
The partnership began today with the ‘renaming’ of the Paddy Power shop on Dublin’s Upper Baggot Street to Paddy Barnes
Who’s copying who now then eh??? @paddypower 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/6yUBQtMMXH
— Paddy Barnes (@paddyb_ireland) July 15, 2016
Paddy Power have done what few others have done and put their hands in their pockets for the Belfast light flyweight, and he explained that “It’s tough for boxers to raise sponsorship.”
“As former World champion Bernard Dunne says we’re just not white collar enough for some people. It’s a working-class sport.
“Irish boxers have traditionally done the business at the Olympics but we don’t get recognised as much in the commercial world as the athletes do.”
