In the wake of this weekend’s deadly white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, Democrats and Republicans alike have publicly denounced the rise of white supremacism in the U.S. Now, another unlikely voice is coming forth to distance itself from neo-Nazism: a brand of tiki torches.
Friday night, as people marched on the University of Virginia campus to protest the removal of a Robert E. Lee statue, they weren’t carrying pitchforks or makeshift torches, but rather wielded tiki torches, best known stateside as a backyard barbecue accompaniment. The irony was not lost on Twitter, as users decried the peculiar pairing of white supremacist protesters carrying a traditional Polynesian product appropriated by suburban houses and themed restaurants nationwide.
White supremacists lit by the light of a thousand Polynesian bamboo tiki torches.
— James A Wong (@Botanygeek) August 13, 2017
Guess they don’t teach irony in neo-nazi class…. pic.twitter.com/wEo8cj0U2u
https://twitter.com/aparnapkin/status/896561670650077185
Evil comes bearing intolerance, hatred, and $4 tiki torches from Walmart. #CharlottesvilleVA pic.twitter.com/zEM6P44Goi
— Stop Trump (@StopTrump2020) August 13, 2017
I like it when when racists march with tiki torches, in clothes & shoes made by Asians. You can hate us but you can’t escape us boo ;)
— David So (@davidsocomedy) August 13, 2017
Almost immediately, tiki torches began appearing on Craigslist, though it is unclear through these screengrabs whether the original owners were trying to help supply the rally or to distance themselves from it.
https://twitter.com/roywoodjr/status/896563602114662400
But even as people made TiKKKi jokes on Twitter, the Tiki brand has been blunt and swift in its statement distancing itself from the actions of the protesters. It posted to Facebook Saturday, saying the brand “is not associated in any way” with the rally and that it is “deeply saddened and disappointed” by it.
https://www.facebook.com/TIKIBrand/posts/10154458849046324
The comments beneath the post are flooded with gratitude from customers, celebrating the brand for taking a stand against hatred and racism. Dozens of people, on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr alike, commented that the brand had taken a more fervent stance against white supremacism than President Donald Trump, who on Saturday merely condemned the hatred and violence “on many sides.”
https://twitter.com/TraciLSaunders/status/896931595226988544
The Tiki brand of Tiki-torches released a better statement regarding the events unfolding in #Charlotteville than @POTUS did. 😧
— Patrick McClanahan, PhD (@_WPM3_) August 14, 2017
https://twitter.com/crazyunlikeafox/status/896907316041179136
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10105338765518197&set=a.10100278121289797.2584410.29611137&type=3&theater
Friday morning, Tiki had kicked off the weekend with a post inviting fans to “bring the party and we’ll provide the ambience.”
https://www.facebook.com/TIKIBrand/photos/a.10150200310541324.307169.87455006323/10154423204976324/?type=3&theater
Maybe next time it’ll be more specific.
