Anti-LGBTQ Vandal Defaces Megan Rapinoe Posters In Bryant Park

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — Eight posters of United States National Soccer Team star Megan Rapinoe were vandalized with anti-LGTBQ graffiti in the Bryant Park subway station one day after the US won the Women's World Cup.

A subway rider noticed the vandalism Monday morning and reported the crime to the MTA, which then forwarded the information to police, an NYPD Spokeswoman Detective Sophia Mason said. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force will handle an investigation into the vandalism, police said.

The posters depicting Rapinoe were covered in various "derogatory" and "anti-sexual orientation" statements, but police did not provide specific examples of the words used. MTA maintenance teams cleaned or replaced the posters on Monday.

"Hate has no place in the transit system and we work hard to make the subway a welcoming, safe environment for everyone. We referred this to NYPD which responded to investigate, our maintenance teams got the posters cleaned and we will have them replaced with new ones if necessary," MTA spokesman Shams Tarek said in a statement.

Rapinoe drew criticism from the right-wing media and politicians this summer when footage of her saying she said that she would decline President Donald Trump's invitation to the " f------ White House" was released after a World Cup victory over Spain. The interview was filmed in January, not during the World Cup. Trump took the opportunity to insult the soccer star on Twitter by saying "Megan should WIN first before she TALKS!" and inviting the team to visit the White House "win or lose."

The United States National Soccer Team defeated The Netherlands 2-0 on Sunday to win the country's fourth Women's World Cup title. Rapinoe scored the game's opening goal during a penalty kick, and won the tournament's golden boot and golden ball trophies for the most goals scored and best overall player.

New York City will honor the team Wednesday with a ticker tape parade.