Former NHL star Ryan Whitney has become embroiled in a social media storm after a post about the NHL playoffs that fans have branded ‘gross’ and in ‘poor taste’.

Whitney – who now works for Barstool Sports – posted an AI-generated picture of two bears on the ice, with one – wearing a Bruins shirt – performing a sex act on another, who is crying and dressed in Maple Leafs colors.

‘Leafs fans I feel for you guys. This ain’t right,’ Whitney wrote alongside the post, to nearly half a million followers.

Boston beat Toronto 3-1 on Saturday, to take a 3-1 lead heading into Game 5 of the NHL playoffs.

Whitney played for the Penguins, Ducks and Oilers during his NHL career, having been drafted fifth overall by Pittsburgh in 2002.

Leafs fans I feel for you guys. This ain’t right. pic.twitter.com/1ZlCVMOiFr

— Ryan Whitney (@ryanwhitney6) April 28, 2024

Since retiring, he has worked as an analyst on NHL Network and is currently a co-host of Barstool’s hockey podcast, Spittin’ Chiclets.

He posted the AI picture the day after the Bruins’ win in Game Four. Nearly 48 hours later, it remains on the social media site and has been viewed more than 11million times.

That is despite the Barstool Sports podcaster facing a vicious backlash from fellow NHL supporters, many of whom urged him to delete it.

‘This is gross,’ one wrote. ‘Consider taking this down. Disrespectful and in poor taste,’ another added. ‘You’re getting fired,’ a third X user warned.

Some fans defended Whitney’s sense of humor but many more criticized him for the image.

‘This not cool man. Should take it down,’ one X user wrote, while another insisted: ‘Sexual assault isn’t a joke. It’s never a joke. Not now, not ever. Take it down and do better.’