*An Italian restaurant in New Mexico – ripped to shreds on social media for co-opting the Black Lives Matter movement to promote an olive dish – has removed its huge “Black Olives Matter” billboard and deleted a picture of the sign from its social media in response to the criticism.
Paisano’s in Albuquerque posted “Black Olives Matter, Try Our Tapenade” on a marquee last week and was met with immediate backlash. People on the restaurant’s Facebook page called it “offensive,” “tacky and hideous” and “in very bad taste,” to say the least.
“We put up what we thought was a cute play on words, which we do commonly here at the restaurant,” Rick Camuglia, the owner, told NBC affiliate KOB. “We were trying to promote our pan-seared Ahi tuna with a black olive tapenade relish. And so we put ‘black olives matter, try our tapenade.’”
Camuglia told CBS affiliate KRQE that he never expected such a firestorm.
“We didn’t think anybody would be offended by that,” he said. “It was not our intent to offend anybody.”
One commenter on Facebook wrote: “What is happening in America saddens so many, even all the way in the southern hemisphere. I love a good joke, but there are things that you just don’t joke about.”
Another added: “As a woman of color I find your posting offensive and in very bad taste. You simply wish to rub salt in an ugly festering wound which evil minded people refuse to allow to heal. The civilized world no longer has any tolerance for your hateful public display of what passes to you as humor. Young men and women are dying have a shred of humanity.”
Watch KOB’s report below:
Paisano’s Italian Restaurant opened in the early 1970s, serving only pizza and Italian sandwiches before it grew into a full-service establishment, according to its website.
In a statement released Friday, the restaurant said it has also received lots of support online and a boost in customers since the Black Olives Matter story went viral.
Read the statement in full below:
Since Wednesday, July 13th, we have been inundated with positive, supportive phone calls from the community as well as overwhelmed with business, not only from our “regulars”, but from so many new customers who came from Albuquerque, surrounding cities, and even neighboring States simply to support us.
A heartfelt “Thank You” to you from our Crew, some of whom were moved to tears because of your kind words and outpouring of support.
Many nowadays would contend that society has changed for the worse, but our experience this week has proven the opposite. We have encountered so many quality people of character; salt of the earth and the bedrock of America. Awesome.
Many have shown a unique way to show solidarity. I can’t count the number of customer’s orders who’ve included adding Black Olives to every dish ordered. Pizzas, Sandwiches and pasta dishes with “double Black Olives Please!” all day long. So much that we almost ran out and ordered more.
We have served Albuquerque for over 40 years and look forward to the next 40.
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