"This clown needs to retire": Gary Bettman faces fans' ire after mistakenly calling Joe Thornton "Dumbo" on HoF induction night

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman drew fans’ ire after mistakenly calling Joe Thornton “Dumbo” during the Hockey Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Monday.

Thornton, famously known as “Jumbo Joe,” was among the inductees in the eight-member Class of 2025. The 18-member selection committee elected the class in June after receiving at least 75% of the votes required for induction.

While addressing the inductees, Bettman accidentally referred to Thornton as “Dumbo” before quickly correcting himself to “Jumbo.” Joe Thornton took it in stride and laughed it off.

Here's how fans on X (formerly called Twitter) reacted. One tweeted:

"This clown needs to retire already."

Another chimed in:

"He’s really standing up there on stage with those ears calling people Dumbo?!?"

Here are some of the other top reactions on X:

"That weasel is an embarrassment to the game. Worst commissioner in the game. Woke left weasel," a third fan wrote. "Unlike most of the NHL fanbase, I have never had a problem with Gary Bettman before... I'm joining the booing from this day forward," one X user opined. "Gary Bettman accidentally calls Joe Thornton, "Dumbo", which is actually Gary's nickname," another user posted. "Ive always hated Bettman. His bias against the Sharks was well known," another chimed in.

Other players inducted into the Hall of Fame alongside Joe Thornton

The other players inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame alongside Joe Thornton in the class of 2025 were Jennifer Botterill, Zdeno Chara, Brianna Decker, Duncan Keith, and Alexander Mogilny. The full eight-member class also included builders Jack Parker and Daniele Sauvageau.

Thornton was drafted first overall by the Boston Bruins in the 1997 NHL draft. The former center played in the league for 24 seasons, also suiting up for the San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers.

He accumulated 1,539 career points through 430 goals and 1,109 assists in 1,714 games. Thornton fell short of winning a Stanley Cup in his career but won the Art Ross and Hart Trophies.

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Edited by Abhishek Dilta