Trudeau's Chewbacca socks ignite Twitter war

OTTAWA • Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's choice in socks sparked a light-hearted Twitter competition between the stars of Star Wars and Star Trek, after he sported Chewbacca hosiery during high- profile appearances in New York City last week.

Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, an American, applauded the appearance of his Wookie comrade on Mr Trudeau's socks, tweeting last Thursday it was "another reason" he loves the Prime Minister.

But Canadian actor William Shatner, who starred in the rival Star Trek franchise, suggested his feelings were hurt by the sock choice, tweeting a tearful emoji and message: "@JustinTrudeau I thought we were friends? Chewbacca socks?"

Mr Trudeau is a well-known fan of Star Wars, having dressed as Han Solo - with his wife Sophie Gregoire Trudeau as Princess Leia - in 2015 to go trick-or-treating at Halloween with his children.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Chewbacca hosiery during high-profile appearances in New York City last week. PHOTO: BLOOMBERG

Hamill joked that Mr Trudeau also wears Star Wars-themed underclothes, tweeting: "Plus - I have it on good authority exactly what he was wearing UNDER his suit", along with a photo of Luke Skywalker children's underwear.

Mr Trudeau tweeted a reply last Friday: "Thanks Mark. Sadly those haven't fit in a while..." along with a "may the force be with you" Star Wars hashtag.

His office declined to comment on whether his sock choice was causing friction between Star Wars and Star Trek fans.

His penchant for wearing novelty socks to fit many occasions, including socks celebrating gay pride, Nato (North Atlantic Treaty Organisation) and the Eid Muslim festival, has garnered both attention and disdain.

A New York Times story in June about his "sock diplomacy" said: "Rarely have a man's ankles said so much. It's pretty clever.

"Men, after all, have significantly fewer options than women when it comes to implicit communication via clothing."

It speculated that Mr Trudeau's themed socks symbolised his "ability to embrace multiculturalism" and his "position as a next-gen leader not bound by antiquated traditions and mores".

REUTERS

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 25, 2017, with the headline Trudeau's Chewbacca socks ignite Twitter war. Subscribe