Today in problematic hand gesture news:
Universal Orlando fires "Despicable Me" actor for making hand gesture linked to white supremacist movement https://t.co/lOFQqiq67t pic.twitter.com/pRtkksn3gt
— The Hill (@thehill) October 3, 2019
More from The Hill:
Tiffiney and Richard Zinger took their daughter, who was 6 years old at the time of the photo, to Universal Orlando in March. When their daughter, who is biracial, posed with the beloved movie character, the actor can be seen making an upside-down “OK” symbol with his hand in footage obtained by USA Today.
The symbol has been associated with white supremacist and white power movements. Some say the gesture looks like the letters “WP,” for white power.
A Universal Orlando Resort spokesman apologized and confirmed that the actor was fired.
“We never want our guests to experience what this family did. This is not acceptable and we are sorry – and we are taking steps to make sure nothing like this happens again. We can’t discuss specifics about this incident, but we can confirm that the actor no longer works here. We remain in contact with the family and will work with them privately to make this right,” the spokesperson said in a statement to The Hill.
Holy cow this is an actual story https://t.co/pNUakvaiWN
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) October 3, 2019
Is it possible that the guy in the Gru suit was a white supremacist? Well, technically, yes. Is the positioning of his fingers proof that he’s a white supremacist? Hardly. But this is where we’re at now.
Look at the child's hand at the bottom though! ? pic.twitter.com/NDTlWDNBTB
— ZUBY: (in Texas) (@ZubyMusic) October 3, 2019
Yo I thought the same thing!
— The Underused Apple (@UnderusedApple) October 3, 2019
Recommended
Is that little boy gonna get pre-emptively fired from his future jobs, too?
Fire the kid too pic.twitter.com/nCCl9SemJa
— Ashly (@Olerolin) October 3, 2019
Gotta fire the kid in green too. pic.twitter.com/XnX3d3axpj
— PERMAFROST ??✡️ (@PermafrostMFK) October 3, 2019
This is getting ridiculous.
— Jesus M. Lorenzana (@bucaneropr) October 3, 2019
— Jesus M. Lorenzana (@bucaneropr) October 3, 2019
If “Gru” was doing “Heil Hitlers” and shouting “White Power!” then by all means, give him the boot. But if we’re so sensitive now that we’re canceling people for suspicious fingers, then we’ve got serious problems.
Imagine going back in time 20 years and trying to explain 2019 to somebody.
— Steven Brule (@bruleoncool) October 3, 2019
The minion is how all of us sane people feel. pic.twitter.com/p8Wq3WjCbL
— Here I am again, mixing (@miseryandginn) October 3, 2019
Congrats, racism is gone. You have defeated racism
— Wes (@wesman0615) October 3, 2019
— Kyle Reese (@KyIeReese) October 3, 2019
Join the conversation as a VIP Member