Is the Pig Mascot's Nickname a Weight Loss Drug? ... What Does the American Baseball Team 'Ojempig' Mean?

Similar Names to Diet Drugs
Some Raise Concerns of 'Obesity Discrimination'

The mascot pig of a minor league baseball team in Minnesota, USA, nicknamed 'Ozempig,' has become embroiled in controversy. The pig's name is derived from the weight loss drug 'Ozempic,' known for its use as a diet medication, but some argue that this nickname is an insult to the obese population.

US ABC News highlighted the controversy surrounding the minor league baseball team Saint Paul Saints' mascot pig 'Ozempig' on the 30th of last month (local time). The pig's name comes from Ozempic, a weight loss drug developed by Novo Nordisk.

Ozemfig, the mascot and ball fig of the American minor league baseball team 'Saint Paul Saints'.
[Image source=Saint Paul Saints Facebook]

However, after the team revealed the name Ozempig, they were flooded with critical comments. The reason was that the mascot pig's name could be perceived as mocking obese patients.

As the controversy grew, the team quickly issued a statement. Sean Arenson, vice president of the Saint Paul Saints and media manager, said, "We just gave this name for fun," firmly denying allegations of fat shaming.

He added, "Ozempig was just one of 2,300 names submitted in a contest to name the pig," and "I can assure you there was no malice intended when choosing this name."

The Saint Paul Saints have traditionally used a pig as their mascot. Usually, a piglet serves as the mascot, and this pig even delivers the ball to the umpire during games. Additionally, it is said to be a spectacle to watch the pig grow larger throughout the summer season.

Meanwhile, the team maintains that the name Ozempig is merely a pun and has decided not to change the nickname despite protests from many netizens.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.