“Why He Chose To Marry a Playboy Bunny…”: Complain Letters Flew in Ahead of Wayne Gretzky’s ‘Royal Wedding’ in 1988

In 1988, Wayne Gretzky lost his title as Canada’s most eligible bachelor as he married American actress Janet Jones in a magnificent wedding. However, while many acclaimed it as the country’s “royal wedding”, some fans, especially women who were ‘in love’ with the ice hockey star, were upset about the news.

Hence, soon after the wedding announcement, many newspaper publications received complaints from fans, displaying their anger toward the same. But more than Gretzky, his wife Janet Jones received the heat from angry fans as they questioned the Canadian legend’s choice.

When Wayne Gretzky upset his fans

Although Gretzky did not wish for it, unsurprisingly, his wedding had turned into a huge public affair. Many tabloids and other media channels treated the wedding announcement as big news. Unfortunately, amidst all this, soon-to-be-bride Jones was on the receiving end of a public backlash.

A year prior to the wedding, the famous American actress had been featured on the cover of the 1987 issue of Playboy magazine. The Associated Press reports how a fan did not hesitate to mention that in their complaint, saying, “What I can’t figure out is why he chose to marry a Playboy bunny when he could have the pick of the crop.”

On the other hand, Hockey Hall of Famer Gordie Howe described Jones saying, “OK, if you like them young and beautiful.” Besides the complaints, numerous rumors regarding the ‘royal wedding’ made rounds in the media. Some of the rumors were so bizarre that Gretzky had to intervene. “We want it to be as first-class as possible, but it is not a million-dollar wedding like everyone says. We’re from sensible families,” Gretzky stated.

Read More: Years Before Their ‘Royal’ Wedding, Wayne Gretzky’s Wife Once Made a Candid Confession on Her Relationship With the NHL GOAT: “It’s Little More Difficult…”

On 16th July 1988, Gretzky married Jones in a gorgeous wedding ceremony. However, people did not stop targeting the new bride, which led to The Great One’s heartfelt confession about his wife.

Janet Jones’s role in Gretzky’s iconic career

During a candid interview on the ‘Arsenio Hall Show’, Gretzky revealed how people started questioning his dedication to ice hockey after the wedding. They believed that Jones had become a priority for the hockey legend, and hence, many awaited his downfall.

However, Gretzky confessed to the impact that his wife had on his career. Jones played a big role in helping him achieve the 1987 Canada Cup, the Stanley Cup, and several other achievements. He elaborates that because of her he became a  calmer and better person, which only helped him improve his career graph.

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Despite all the fans and media accusations, Gretzky never disrespected his marriage or Jones. In fact, he felt very thankful to her. The two are some couple goals!