Home · World · Sep 11 archive
DHS Deletes Optimus Prime Post Amid Hasbro Anger, Racism Accusation
Developing
In Short: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has removed a post featuring Optimus Prime promoting self-deportation, facing backlash and accusations of racism from lawmakers.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has deleted a post that promoted self-deportation and was styled to look like a Transformers movie poster featuring the character Optimus Prime, following accusations of racism.
Senator Adam Schiff, a California Democrat, and the press office for California Governor Gavin Newsom both condemned the post, calling it 'hateful, disgraceful and un-American.
The post, shared on September 9, was quickly met with backlash and was later removed. The DHS also shared another image designed to look like a movie poster on Wednesday, captioned 'Transformers Age of Deportation,' which remains visible.
This is not the first time posts from the DHS have faced backlash, with concerns over copyrighted material and accusations of promoting white nationalist movements also surfacing during President Donald Trump’s second term.
What's still developing
- Earlier this year, the DHS and White House social media accounts were criticized after sharing posts which reference the phrase "We'll have our home again, " which researchers and civil rights groups said echoed material associated with white nationalist movements.
- The post alongside the image said: "DHS is getting the worst of the worst off of America's roads." Posts from the DHS and other government accounts have routinely prompted backlash through President Donald Trump ’s second term in office, as well as concerns over copyrighted material, whether it has been through the use of songs or likenesses.
Sources
- Newsweeklink