Canadian golfer facing online vitriol over mistaken identity

David Hearn holds the trophy for Top Canadian at the Canadian Open in Oakville, Ont., on July 26, 2015. (Paul Chiasson / The Canadian Press)

A golfer from Brantford, Ont., is facing a slew of online hatred in a case of mistaken identity.

It began when ABC News wrote an article about the arrest of three-time U.S. Olympian David Hearn. The 67-year-old canoeist from Bethesda, Maryland, was cuffed after he allegedly touched a piece of blue coating that had detached from the bottom of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington, D.C.

The iconic landmark has been the target of criticism and extensive repairs after a $14.7 million renovation.

In a social media post, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed there was a “350-foot gash” in the paint. He has, without evidence, repeatedly blamed vandals for the site’s ongoing challenges.

Trump said six people, including Hearn, were arrested for the damage.

But when ABC News covered the story, they mistakenly used a photo of Brampton-born Canadian PGA golfer David Hearn, who now lives in Brantford. A post on X, with the wrong picture, was published on Sunday night and has since garnered more than 256,400 views. The post was still viewable on the @ABC account as of Tuesday afternoon.

A correction was made to the article, but the Canadian golfer, who goes by @HearnDavid on X, has been fielding a steady stream of accusations ever since.

“@HearnDavid you are going to jail you worthless piece of liberal (expletive),” an X user, identified as “Travelling Johnny The Patriot,” wrote.

Hearn responded with, “Please direct your anger to a better place… or even the correct David Hearn. There happens to be more than one person in the world with the same name.”

Brantford’s David Hearn also has a foundation, called The David Hearn Foundation, which has raised more than $1.2 million for the Alzheimer’s Society of Brant, Haldimand Norfolk, Hamilton Halton chapter. Angry social media users zeroed in on that aspect of his life.

“Hey David, spend more time on the foundation and less time vandalizing reflection pools. You are the epitome of,” an X user named Vic Mackey wrote. Mackey did not specify what Hearn is “the epitome of.”

Meanwhile, the American canoeist has denied all allegations he intentionally damaged the reflection pool.

CTV News Kitchener has reached out to Brantford’s David Hearn for his take on the naming mishap.