Donald Trump Jr. was widely condemned Monday on social media for his tweet comparing poisoned candy to Syrian refuges.
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The photo in question – a striking shot of a white bowl of Skittles against a white background – was posted on Flickr more than six years ago.
As the debate continues over the Donald Trump Jr.’s questionable Syrian refugee metaphor, he is now coming under fire by the photographer who captured that image of a Skittles bowl. “Would you take a handful?” read a message tweeted out by Donald Trump Jr. above a white bowl of the colorful sweets. “Because I’ve been trick-or-treating for years and I’ve never gotten Syrian refugees in my bag”. Jason Miller, the Trump campaign’s senior communications adviser, said: “Speaking the truth might upset those who would rather be politically correct than safe, but the American people want a change, and only Donald Trump will do what’s needed to protect us”.
Outraged Twitter users took to their timelines to blast Trump Jr. for the comparison, sharing heartbreaking images of child refugees using the phrase, “People aren’t Skittles”.
The Wrigley brand responded to Trump Jr.’s tweet in an official statement, saying, “Skittles are candy. It’s an inappropriate analogy”, Vice President of Corporate Affairs Denise Young said in a statement. He said he isn’t on Twitter and was alerted to the image’s use by friends.
Kittos said he took the photo in 2010 to practice flash techniques.
Kittos, who is now a British citizen, detailed how his family “had to leave everything behind overnight”, when they were forced to flee Cyprus after the Turkish military occupied his home country. In the wake of the current refugee crisis-the largest in recent history-the USA and Europe have grappled with how to respond.
Trevor Noah decides to use a Skittles reference of his own to explain some of the key shadiness about Trump’s campaign and business practices.
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“I was just experimenting with something called off-camera flash”, Kittos said of the now viral image. “And yes, for the record, I would eat all of them”. “They should not be stealing an image full stop”.
