Andrew Shaw comes out in support of his cousin Jacob Panetta

Since Saturday's ECHL game where then-Jacksonville Icemen forward Jacob Panetta made a racial gesture towards South Carolina Stingrays defenceman Jordan Subban, many have come out to voice their opinion. The majority have come to support Subban and to say that they stand by him.

Panetta has been suspended indefinitely pending an investigation by the East Coast Hockey League, while the Jacksonville Icemen cut him from their team.

Former NHLer Andrew Shaw is taking the other route, siding with and supporting Jacob Panetta, who is his cousin.

In a post on Instagram, Shaw said, "First of all I want to say I support the movement and I treat everyone as equals I don't judge a person by the color of their skin or sexual orientation! I judge people for the person they are, and Jacob is an amazing person!"

He added, "He is being judged in the media for an incident that was misinterpreted! Yes it looks bad but there is evidence that he's done the ''tough guy' pose in a few other games to players of non color! I believe him when he says there was no intent to be racist with his gesture."

Shaw's full statement can be viewed below.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Andrew Shaw (@shawz65)

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