Eof xperts claim partisan polarization is at a worryingly high level in the United States.
For evidence of this, look no further than Twitter's recent cancellation of Domino's for a 2012 tweet where they thanked Kayleigh McEnany for a compliment. Way back in 2012, future Trump Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany—just 24 years old at the time—tweeted that Domino's pizza was, in her opinion, really good.
Better even than NYC pizza.
FUN FACT: @dominos is wayyyy better than any NYC pizza
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) November 9, 2012
Domino's replied to her compliment by thanking her.
@kayleighmcenany That's one heck of a compliment! Thanks for the love! #WEAPPRECIATEIT!
— Domino's Pizza (@dominos) November 9, 2012
The tweets may have been innocuous back then, but they took on a whole new feeling for some in today's political climate.
Former Republican political strategist, conservative author and pundit Rick Wilson—who is no fan of President Donald Trump—amplified the Domino's response on Twitter.
You just killed your brand. #ETTD https://t.co/NdGee87xvH
— Rick Wilson (@TheRickWilson) June 16, 2020
Well, last night was the last Dominoes pizza I'll ever order.
— Brett Dallinger (@BrettDallinger) June 16, 2020
Some people online were even calling for a boycott of the pizza brand.
#BOYCOTTDOMINOS NOW
— Banks (@BanksPatriot) June 16, 2020
@dominos Yep, I'm done! @BoycottDominos #BoycottDomino's #LittleCaesarsIsBetter https://t.co/PT37bCOCux
— Catherine needs a drink. 🥂🍷🥃🍸🍹🍺🍻 (@Clary_Catherine) June 16, 2020
Others, however, believed the entire "controversy" was absolute nonsense started by conservative critics of President Trump but certain to be blamed on the "lefty liberals" by his fans.
Dominos getting dragged for this innocent reply from 2012 is absolutely peak 2020 energy and I am crying laughing and also crying for the poor dominos social team having to deal with this lmaoooo https://t.co/ysUEeuNDSp
— Mac McCann (@MacMcCannTX) June 16, 2020
So ... people are coming after Domino's for this tweet.
1) It's OK for people to say thank you for apolitical compliments without crosschecking the opinions of the person doing the complimenting
2) Even if it wasn't, this is from *2012*!
We're in a societal moral panic. Stop. https://t.co/KRoTfwNnWj
— Akiva Cohen (@AkivaMCohen) June 16, 2020
People trynna cancel Dominos, because they said thank you? Am I getting this right? Are y'all really that sensitive? Y'all got nothing better to do? This is getting pathetic. https://t.co/rhA3N670Ez
— BagToonZ (@BtzPaper) June 17, 2020
Even Domino's replied to Rick Wilson, who dug up the tweets, rolling their eyes at the entire issue.
Welp. It's unfortunate that thanking a customer for a compliment back in 2012 would be viewed as political. Guess that's 2020 for ya.
— Domino's Pizza (@dominos) June 16, 2020
This is a 'political strategist' and self described 'ad guy' getting destroyed by Domino's Pizza pic.twitter.com/nqxVujlllK
— men's short shorts activist (@TheEpicDept) June 17, 2020
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/RQXW8NTpNU
— S T E V E N - The Fandom Menace Illustrator™ (@StevenWayneArt) June 16, 2020
McEnany came to Domino's defense, doubling down on her love of the chain.
I LOVE @dominos (and also @pizzahut)! ❤️
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) June 16, 2020
Many, however, still haven't forgiven McEnany for her support of the racist birther movement during Obama's time in office.
How I Met Your Brother -- Never mind, forgot he's still in that hut in Kenya. #ObamaTVShows
— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) August 30, 2012
And it turns out Domino's has a long history with the Trump administration.
Dominos is definitely canceled now. pic.twitter.com/7XyLv7f627
— Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) June 17, 2020
Perhaps it's time we all agree that a pizza company's tweets from 2012 shouldn't mean much about their current political affiliations. After all, in the past McEnany may have been promoting the birther movement, but she was also still referring to her future boss as "racist and hateful."
Who knows which McEnany sent the Domino's tweet?
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