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The Des Moines police department has found themselves at the center of controversy over their recent March Madness post.
Iowa State freshman Audi Crooks became a breakout star during the opening round of the women’s NCAA tournament on Friday night when she scored 40 points and 12 rebounds to lead her team to an incredible comeback win against Maryland.
Audi Crooks in Iowa St. comeback W:
40 PTS
18-20 FG
12 REBUNSTOPPABLE in her first-ever March Madness game 😤 pic.twitter.com/EQ6w1JIiu0
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 23, 2024
After Crooks’ big game, the Des Moines police department congratulated her with a meme on social media.
“Congratulations to @CycloneWBB and record breaking @AudiCrooks on their win tonight!”
“Some crooks, nobody can stop”
Some fans felt that the tweet was racist and called for the Des Moines police department to take it down.
https://twitter.com/thaiafloyd/status/1771591489849553109
audi is a force on the court.
this police tweet using a black woman’s name and likeness in *this* way is super cringe. https://t.co/AUKB8jJPYh
— mike taddow (@MikeTaddow) March 23, 2024
Others felt critics of the post were being way too sensitive.
Lighten up people, this is great haha https://t.co/MhNZa1Rv69
— 🏈🌪️Gront🌪️🏀 (@GrantKessler8) March 23, 2024
ain’t no way people are mad about this https://t.co/RsdgTecWRB
— 🌹 (@hawkeyemuse) March 23, 2024