Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons took the floor this past Tuesday night in Charlotte with a special message scrawled on the side of his Nike Hyperdunk X in black marker. The Australian-born superstar had "Egg Boy" written on the side of his sneakers as a tribute to the newly recognized Aussie teenager.
Egg Boy's real name is Will Connolly. The 17-year old has become an internet sensation over the past week for smashing an egg over the head of far-right senator Fraser Anning during a recent interview following the tragic massacre in New Zealand. Connolly would be arrested for his actions, although has since been released. Since egging the senator, he has also become a hero in his home country.
Anning has been vocally critical of Muslim immigration to Australia and frequently pushes Islamophobic rhetoric on his social media accounts. He even blamed immigration for the mass shootings at two mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand that left 50 individuals dead.
"Egg Boy" has been a divisive topic in Australia. Conservatives have decried the act, while others have praised Connolly for making a statement in support of diversity and are using him as a symbol to combat racism.
Simmons etching "Egg Boy" on his shoe clearly emphasizes the side that the 22-year old stands with as he shows support during a trying time in his home country. It is not the first time he showed support for the teen either. He also commented "Australian legend" on one of his recent Instagram posts. The account has since been deleted. Simmons' egg-colored sneakers proved to be beneficial on the court as well. The All-Star led the Sixers with 28 points on an impressive 11-12 shooting to help his squad secure a 118-114 victory.
