Canadians on Twitter were quick to poke fun at a scuffle involving Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the House of Commons, in which the PM came into physical contact with a female MP from the NDP.
And while many acknowledged that Trudeau should not have jostled NDP MP Ruth Ellen Brosseau, most of the Twitter response to "#elbowgate" suggested the parties' reactions to the incident were blown way out of proportion.
One individual compared to recordings of the John F. Kennedy assassination, calling it "the Zapruder film of our time."
A number of people laughed off suggestions that the PM had actually assaulted Brosseau, saying that the incident was no worse than getting bumped on a bus or in line at a store.
If is the new definition of assault & battery, then we need to be arresting hordes of people on the bus & in malls.
— Riley (@apollorising)
I've been elbowed harder at the supermarket, but I didn't make a fuss because it wasn't by & I'm a grown-up.
— Colleen (@Mantrabus)
Any respect I had for the is gone at this point. How despicable u r turning an accidental shove into women's violence issue!
— Vee ♊ (@__MissVee__)
Others immortalized the "Elbowgate" moment using Photoshop.
Congrats to Brosseau for winning such a prestigious award
— calgary_soulguy (@EdTanas)
Move over, burnt toast.
— Andy Bowers (@evilpez4)
Ready for a scrap!
— J Gee (@striss)
One individual sought to put the whole thing in perspective by tweeting a photo of former prime minister Jean Chretien choking a protester in 1996, in what has come to be known as the "Shawinigan Handshake."
FOR REFERENCE: THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN YOU ARE ACTUALLY BEING "MANHANDLED"
— The Annoying Peasant (@FakeStuartB)
I say give Trudeau 8 games...
— Giant Blue Ring (@GiantBlueRing)
Trudeau apologized in the House of Commons on Thursday for his "inappropriate behaviour" toward Brosseau.
"I did not pay attention to my surroundings and as a result, I made contact with the member from Berthier-Maskinonge," he said.