Canadians are weighing in after NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh confronted a heckling protester on Parliament Hill for calling him a “corrupted bastard.”
On Tuesday, a video captured the exchange between Singh and protesters while leaving Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
In the video, a protester can be heard mumbling “corrupted bastard” as Singh is walking away. Afterwards, Singh turns around to confront the protester.
“Who said that? You got something to say?” he asked two men, who consistently denied saying the insult.
Before Singh leaves, he says to one man protester, “You’re a coward, you’re not going to say it to my face, that’s what’s up,” to which the protester responds that he would have admitted it if he said it.
According to media reports, a large group of demonstrators have been outside Parliament intimidating and harassing staff since the House of Commons returned on Monday.
On Tuesday evening, Singh issued a statement on X in regards to the viral video, claiming he does not tolerate bullies.
“By now you’ve probably seen the video. For days now, bullies in Ottawa have been spewing hate and harassing Canadians who don’t agree with them. An Indigenous woman being called a Nazi. Staff being harassed. Journalists being yelled at. That’s the country Pierre Poilievre wants,” he begins.
“Me? I believe everyone should feel safe walking our streets. I believe we need to stand up to bullies and shut down hate. Canadians believe in lifting each other up. Not tearing each other down. Stand with us,” he continued.
Online, many users respect the NDP leader for how he handled the situation.
“I don’t think I would ever agree with your policies but what you did there was right,” one X user said.
“Seriously this was soooo badass of him. It NEVER should come to this. These bullies became cowards faster than you can say “corrupted bastard”, another user said.
“Say what you want about Singh. He 100% was justified in doing this. These far right chuds are nothing but cowards in the end,” another user commented.
Meanwhile, others say they do not care for the politician’s antics.
“The ONLY thing you care about is your pension. If I didn’t know any better, today’s video was staged,” one user said.
“Jagmeet? REALLY? The harassment you endured could have been a galvanizing moment. Instead, you use it to attack Pierre Poilievre. You know how hypocritical and hollow your words sound, don’t you? What a shame,” another user said.
