Skittles aren’t happy with human dumpster fire Donald Trump Jr., son of Republican presidential nominee and noted bigot, Donald Trump.
Trump Jr. took to Twitter to share a meme comparing killer skittles to the ongoing Syrian refugee debate. It’s an interesting choice of analogy.
This image says it all. Let's end the politically correct agenda that doesn't put America first. #trump2016 pic.twitter.com/9fHwog7ssN
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 19, 2016
Skittles executive Denis Young caught wind of the Tweet and instantly rejected the comparison, writing in a statement the post isn’t appropriate.
“Skittles are candy. Refugees are people,” she said. “We don’t feel it’s an appropriate analogy. We will respectfully refrain from further commentary as anything we say could be misinterpreted as marketing.”
Good on Skittles for responding to the hateful meme. Refugees are people and should be treated as such.
A couple of funny tidbits from Trump Jr.’s tweet came to light soon after the post. Former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh (the same dweeb who posted violent, racially charged Tweets following July’s shooting in Dallas) claimed to have authored the post back in August. Plagiarism from a Trump? That’s impossible!
The best response, though, comes from the original photographer of the Skittles picture Trump Jr. shared, David Kittos. Kittos told the BBC, not only did Trump Jr. not have permission to share his picture but that he’s a refugee himself and “doesn’t support his politics and I would never take his money to use it.” Of course, the image Trump Jr. posted and had made into an anti-refugee advertisement was originally taken by a refugee. This insane election cycle certainly doesn’t lack irony.
Next time Trump Jr. wants to share a hateful meme, he should check the original source and make sure he has the rights to post it. It’s not hard.
[AdWeek]
