As thousand of people across the country continue to protest police brutality and demand justice, companies are joining the fight. Some like Bad Robot, Disney, and LEGO are donating millions of dollars to various non-profits and charities. Others are working to establish new programs to help fight for racial equality and justice.
But while these donations are appreciated, they’re not entirely from the goodness of people’s hearts. These statements of support are playing on popular opinion, in the hopes of boosting the image and brand of each company. We’ve seen it in the increased corporatization of LGBTQ+ Pride, among other politically themed marketing moments.
By now, we’re used to these cynical marketing ploys, but sometimes a company comes along and offers an opinion that literally no one was asking for. Case in point: beloved 90s fruit snack Gushers, which tweeted this statement:
Gushers wouldn’t be Gushers without the Black community and your voices. We’re working with @fruitbythefoot on creating space to amplify that. We see you. We stand with you. pic.twitter.com/7y1DgUYitN
— Gushers (@gushers) June 6, 2020
Oh snap, now Fruit by the Foot is getting involved!
Teaming up with @gushers. We are listening & committed for the long term. Stay tuned. https://t.co/qYH3nkAnfN
— Fruit By The Foot (@FruitByTheFoot) June 6, 2020
What is it exactly that Gushers and Fruit by the Foot are planning? Free snacks for protesters? A river of corn syrup to entrap the police? Look, I get it. Social media managers gotta eat. But this is WILD. People are not looking to Gushers to change the world.
The tone deaf tweets garnered some hilarious responses from Twitter. Here are some of our favorites:
I never had any doubts that Gushers was working to create a more just an equitable world but I’m still glad to see this.
— Brendel (@Brendelbored) June 6, 2020
Dunkaroos’ silence is deafening right now.
— A-thony CAB-tano (@theneedledrop) June 6, 2020
Thank you to Gushers for tweeting “Gushers wouldn’t be Gushers without the Black community” in the dead of night last night 💪😤Please give all black people (who want them) free gushers 🙏 Thank you again https://t.co/1kLciB6Cqz
— Caity Weaver (@caityweaver) June 6, 2020
2020 was the year Gushers said Black Lives Matter before Trump did
— pls help me win maxim (@HaleyMancini) June 6, 2020
i have things to do today but unfortunately “Gushers wouldn’t be Gushers without the Black community” short-circuited my brain
— nick (@1000000horses) June 6, 2020
I stand with Gushers. https://t.co/U43viN2sKY
— Jensen Karp (@JensenKarp) June 6, 2020
When I decide to go to the store, I’m definitely going to think:
“You know what, Gushers supports Black issues and tweeted about black causes. I’m definitely going to select them over those horrible White Supremacist Haribo Bears.”
Thanks Brand. https://t.co/1M61eUU2fg pic.twitter.com/9lKROV8r3I
— Malcolm FleX (@Malcolm_fleX48) June 6, 2020
You know, I wasn’t really looking to Gushers for moral leadership right now, but goddamn did they deliver anyway.
My childhood snack choices have been affirmed. Gushers, lead the way. https://t.co/LJurjJlpXs
— Jeremiah Ellison (@jeremiah4north) June 6, 2020
Thank you Gushers. Out of respect, I will not gush one single Gusher today https://t.co/qr7mDXsny7
— Chase Mitchell (@ChaseMit) June 6, 2020
I’ve been waiting for this one thank you https://t.co/5TTmdTfkq4
— Ira Madison III (@ira) June 6, 2020
Either make an all Black gusher with the inside tasting like sweet potato pie or this rings hollow. https://t.co/XC1VFt0JMX
— Frederick Joseph (@FredTJoseph) June 6, 2020
Gushers walked in selma once. Gushers did back up vocals for a local production of the Wiz. Gushers screamed get it bitch as Angela Davis successfully defended herself against the American Government. Gushers grandfather was J Edgar Hoover whoops oh shit!
— Lou Gonzalez Jr. (@angrylou) June 6, 2020
Gushers, welcome to the resistance I guess? Sigh.
(image: YouTube/Funny Commercials)
- Since it’s Pride Month, let’s celebrate the 20 year anniversary of queer classic But I’m a Cheerleader. (via AVClub)
- Get Itch.io’s Bundle For Racial Justice And Equality, a collection of 742 games for donations starting at $5. (via Itch.io)
- Fantastic Four director Josh Trank said he got “heavy pushback” for wanting to cast a Black Sue Storm. (via Geeks of Color)
- Karyn Kusama (Jennifer’s Body) is adapting Dracula for a new film. (via io9)
- Here’s a solid list of groups and organizations working towards racial justice. (via Nerdist)
- We need more LGBTQ+ characters in kids’ programming. (via CBR)
- Avengers assemble!
With the sound off, this looks like the tower of opponents Tucker must face in Mortal Kombat https://t.co/cmCMBv3l0r
— Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) June 6, 2020
I have no idea who did this, but if you know, find them and tag them. One of the best things I’ve seen on this app this week
— Jemele Hill (@jemelehill) June 5, 2020
What did you see out there today, Mary Suevians?
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