A father from Canada has responded to a school teacher who allegedly criticized his daughter for wearing an American flag sweater, accusing her of 'supporting a dictatorship.'
Known as Billboard Chris on social media, Chris Elston expressed his frustration online over what his daughter Arya reportedly experienced at her school.
Elston, based in South Surrey, shared that his daughter mentioned a teacher questioning her decision to wear a Brandy Melville navy sweater featuring the American flag.
He said: 'I just picked up my daughter from her Canadian school wearing her beautiful American flag sweater.
'I recently found out that a teacher questioned why she wore it and accused her of supporting dictatorship and fascism,' he said.
'Another teacher witnessed this and asked my daughter if she was okay afterwards. We will not tolerate this abusive language. Complaint incoming.'
In an update, Elston added that the teacher in question has known his daughter for years, saying 'this is not okay'.
Elston seemingly reached out to the unidentified teacher and shared their email response, indicating the issue was addressed.
The teacher's email stated: 'I understand your concern and had already intended to speak with Arya on Monday, even before receiving your email.'
'I know Arya is an upstanding student and I have had a positive relationship as a teacher and a coach with he for many years.
'In all honesty, the comment I made about the American flag was done flippantly and without thinking.
'In no way was I intentionally trying to upset or embarrass Arya, but I see how it could be received.
'I do not want Arya to feel that my comment was a calculated attack on her, I did not mean it to be. I will seek Arya out on Monday.'
The Daily Mail has reached out to Elston for further comment on his post but have yet to receive a response. It is unclear which school the child attends.
Elston previously made headlines due to his ongoing work as a children's safety campaigner.
He had shared a Daily Mail story to his X profile about a female-to-male trans Australian activist working for the WHO and was issued a removal notice by Australia's eSafety Commissioner.
Julie Inman Grant, the eSafety Commissioner, deemed the post to be 'degrading' cyber abuse and ordered X to remove it or face an almost $800,000 fine, prompting both Elston and X to sue the Australian government.
The Administrative Appeals Tribunal (ART) ruled that Elston's post did not meet the definition of cyber abuse and the eSafety Commissioner should
The win was hailed as a victory for free speech by Paul Coleman, executive director of ADF International, who supported Elston's legal challenge.
Speaking with Daily Mail Australia after the ruling was handed down, he said it 'provides a safe road map for free speech in Australia - and around the world'.
'My intent was not to harm Teddy Cook but to encourage serious debate about these issues,' he added.
Elston said he believed that 'calling a man a woman and vice versa is not only untrue but has implications for the safety of women and children'.