How Native Americans are portrayed in sports has been a major controversy for decades, whether it concerns offensive team names, mascots or logos.

Do you think the Atlanta @Braves did the right thing in canceling their promotional foam tomahawk giveaway? Tweet at me your thoughts on the matter. #TomahawkChop #Poll

— ASICentral (@asicentral) October 10, 2019

This week the controversy has included promotional products, as the Atlanta Braves canceled a foam tomahawk giveaway scheduled for Game 5 of the National League Division Series. The tomahawks had been placed under fans’ seats before Game 1 and Game 2, but were nixed for Wednesday’s pivotal game after comments from St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley.

The #Braves have discontinued the practice of handing out foam tomahawks after the comments made by #STLCards pitcher Ryan Helsley, a Cherokee Nation member. Here is their statement: pic.twitter.com/NjioUNxsS0

— Mark Saxon (@markasaxon) October 9, 2019

After taking the mound for the first time in Game 1, the rookie and member of the Cherokee Nation told The St. Louis Post-Dispatch that he found the Braves fans’ traditional “Tomahawk Chop” chant “a disappointment” and “disrespectful.”

“I think it’s a misrepresentation of the Cherokee people or Native Americans in general,” Helsley said. “Just depicts them in this kind of caveman-type people way who aren’t intellectual. They are a lot more than that. It’s not me being offended by the whole mascot thing. It’s not. It’s about the misconception of us, the Native Americans, and it devalues us and how we’re perceived in that way, or used as mascots.”

As a result of Helsley’s comments, the Braves discontinued giving out foam tomahawks in an effort to reduce the chant while Helsley is playing. The decision has produced fodder for sports talk shows and fueled debate on social media. While some fans applaud the Braves for being sensitive to Native Americans’ wishes, others bemoan the act as another form of censorship in the age of political correctness.

the move by the @Braves to stop handing out the foam tomahawks is another sign of the grip political correctness has on our society. You're called the braves in honor of the strength of American Indians. You look unintelligent making this move. @_RHelsley has it very wrong.

— Joe Pags Pagliarulo (@JoeTalkShow) October 9, 2019

Atlanta should take the offseason to eliminate all "chop" branding. Start fresh. It will be forgotten by the All-Star break. https://t.co/e5Z0wiqHln

— J.C. Bradbury (@jc_bradbury) October 10, 2019

Early Morning thoughts on the removal of the Chop.

1. It didn't cause the Braves to lose Game 5.

2. Future Chops will be started organically, like we've all been wanting for ages.

3. It means treasure the foam Tomahawks you have.

4. You don't need a foam Tomahawk to #ChopOn.

— DoctorBobble (@DoctorBobble) October 10, 2019

This is what happens when you don’t give out foam tomahawks at the game because one person claims it’s offensive😒 pic.twitter.com/N4Eo1EuQnC

— Kyle Gollhofer™️ (@BabyGflo) October 10, 2019

The Braves pulled free foam tomahawks tonight because a Cardinals player complained. Good lord. Epic game 5 disaster. Tough to be weaker.

— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 9, 2019

I'm Cherokee and I don't have a problem with it. It's a ball game. Gutless move by the @Braves

— Baseball Cards ect. (@BaseballCards15) October 9, 2019

The Braves lost to the Cardinals by a score of 13-1 and are subsequently eliminated from the playoffs. We’ll have to wait until next season to see whether the organization revisits its decision to stop handing out foam tomahawks. Distributors targeting the sports market should be paying attention, too. The Braves’ decision could inspire other teams – professional, collegiate or high school – to crack down on promotional products that potentially offend Native American tribes.

Other professional teams have already been impacted by the controversy. Earlier this year, the Cleveland Indians abandoned its polarizing Chief Wahoo logo, removing it from all game day uniforms. In the NFL, the Washington Redskins have been repeatedly criticized for still using the offensive name. However, in 2016, The Washington Post conducted a poll in which nine in 10 Native Americans said they were not offended by the Washington Redskins name.