Pride-themed white Skittles draw racism accusations

[TexasTowelie]

In honor of pride month, Skittles is releasing a new bag of all-white candies in Europe with the label: "During Pride, only one rainbow matters. So we've given up ours to show support."

A spokeswoman for the Wrigley Company, which makes Skittles, told The Associated Press that the colored Skittles were put on hold "in order for Pride's rainbow to take center stage."

Link to tweet

Some however, are accusing the company of perpetuating white supremacy with their all-white Skittles.

Link to tweet

Read more: http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Pride-themed-white-Skittles-draw-racism-11225460.php

[luvMIdog]

1. IMO it wasn't about racism at all. What I understand it to mean is that they want to remain without

colors because the colors of gay pride should get all the attention. You know .. like don't wear white to a wedding and upstage the bride who will be wearing a white gown.

[shenmue]

2. Hmmm

[femmedem]

3. That's exactly how I took it, and your analogy is perfect. n/t

[Crash2Parties]

4. In my opinion their handling of this is completely tone deaf.

They are saying that only LGBT Pride matters - but on a white backdrop. That's sorta been a problem with Pride since day one. And wording such as putting other colors "on hold" while they crank out the (white) LGBT Pride candies is strikingly similar to the messages that the sort of groups Harvey Milk railed against (ie HRC) traditionally push. "We'll come back for you" - after we attain some measure of equality that matters to us (historically, somewhat assimilationist, respectable white gay men). The big problem is the symbolism that white is the default, white equals equality (we'll make everyone white and be post-racism!). None of this should be news to the brand - after they announced a chance to their packaging last April to promote Pride, they were resoundingly contacted and informed by #BlackLivesMatter & denizens of Twitter.

[Behind the Aegis]

5. Typical overreaction.

There are ALWAYS those who look to "punch down" the LGBT community by distracting and making it about something else entirely. Hate crimes against gay men automatically morph into some other bullshit and the idea that gay men are attacked for being gay becomes "oh they are secretly gay", "it is sexism", "it was about white supremacy", and the idea that gay men are brutalized becomes the "sideshow".

I am not surprised by this "controversy", I'd be surprised if there wasn't one.

[cwydro]

6. Spot on. nt