TSN apologizes for airing inappropriate tweet about Maple Leafs' Lupul

TORONTO - TSN has apologized for an inflammatory fan tweet that the network aired during its NHL trade deadline coverage.

A Toronto Maple Leafs fan wrote an insinuating tweet about Leafs forward Joffrey Lupul and Dion Phaneuf's wife, actress Elisha Cuthbert. The tweet made it onto the network as part of an ongoing crawl at the bottom of the screen.

Joffrey Lupul called TSN "a poor mans TMZ" in response.

Lupul wrote on Twitter: "TSN just a poor mans TMZ. Embarrassing."

Not long after, TSN apologized in a series of tweets.

"Earlier today, an inappropriate and disrespectful tweet was erroneously aired," the network wrote on its public relations account. "As soon as it was flagged, we immediately removed it. We've reached out to the Toronto Maple Leafs organization and all those impacted to extend our sincerest apologies for our error.

"It should have never, ever gone to air."