A Canadian father has hit back at a school teacher who allegedly mocked his daughter for ‘supporting a dictatorship’ by wearing an American flag sweater to school.
Chris Elston, known online as Billboard Chris, posted on his social media this week airing his anger over the alleged interaction his daughter Arya had at her school.
According to South Surrey-based Elston, his daughter told him that the teacher questioned her for wearing the Brandy Melville navy sweater which has Old Glory emblazoned over it.
He said: ‘I just picked up my daughter from her Canadian school wearing her beautiful American flag sweater.
‘I have just learned that a teacher asked what she was doing wearing this today, and literally accused her of supporting a dictatorship and fascists.
‘Another teacher witnessed this and asked my daughter if she was okay afterwards. We will not tolerate this abusive language. Complaint incoming.’
In an update, Elston added that the teacher in question has known his daughter for years, saying ‘this is not okay’.
He appeared to have contacted the unknown teacher according to an emailed response he shared from them, saying that the problem had since been solved.
Elston’s daughter, seen here, wore a Brandy Melville brand sweater to school and was allegedly criticized by her teacher for it
Chris Elston, known online as Billboard Chris, posted on his social media this week airing his anger over the alleged interaction
The response from the teacher said: ‘I understand your concern and had already planned on touching base with Arya on Monday before receiving your email.
‘I know Arya is an upstanding student and I have had a positive relationship as a teacher and a coach with he for many years.
‘In all honesty, the comment I made about the American flag was done flippantly and without thinking.
‘In no way was I intentionally trying to upset or embarrass Arya, but I see how it could be received.
‘I do not want Arya to feel that my comment was a calculated attack on her, I did not mean it to be. I will seek Arya out on Monday.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to Elston for further comment on his post but have yet to receive a response. It is unclear which school the child attends.
Elston previously made headlines due to his ongoing work as a children’s safety campaigner.
He had shared a Daily Mail story to his X profile about a female-to-male trans Australian activist working for the WHO and was issued a removal notice by Australia’s eSafety Commissioner.
He appeared to have contacted the unknown teacher according to an emailed response he shared from them
Elston is seen here demonstrating against gender affirmation treatments and surgeries on minors, outside of Boston Children’s Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, on September 18, 2022
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, deemed the post to be ‘degrading’ cyber abuse and ordered X to remove it or face an almost $800,000 fine, prompting both Elston and X to sue the Australian government.
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ART) ruled that Elston’s post did not meet the definition of cyber abuse and the eSafety Commissioner should
The win was hailed as a victory for free speech by Paul Coleman, executive director of ADF International, who supported Elston’s legal challenge.
Speaking with Daily Mail Australia after the ruling was handed down, he said it ‘provides a safe road map for free speech in Australia – and around the world’.
‘My intent was not to harm Teddy Cook but to encourage serious debate about these issues,’ he added.
Elston said he believed that ‘calling a man a woman and vice versa is not only untrue but has implications for the safety of women and children’.