St. Paul Saints Retain 'OzemPig' Mascot Despite Controversy

The minor league team's choice to name its pig mascot 'OzemPig' has sparked backlash over perceived fat-shaming, but officials insist on no malicious intent.

The St. Paul Saints, a minor league baseball team, has faced criticism for naming its live pig mascot 'OzemPig', a play on the weight loss drug Ozempic.
Critics argue the name flirts with fat-shaming, while the team has defended its choice, citing a lack of malicious intent behind the decision.
The mascot's name was chosen from nearly 2,300 entries in a 'Name the Pig Contest', beating out other contenders like 'Porky Blinders' and 'Sloppenheimer'.
Despite the backlash, team officials, including VP Sean Aronson, have decided to keep the name, believing in the true intent behind it.
The pig mascot, a tradition since 1993, participates in game-day activities such as delivering balls to umpires and becomes a beloved figure over the season.