By now Donald Trump’s hideous Skittles and refugees analogy has been seen in every corner of the globe.
On Monday afternoon – overnight for us in Ireland – Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr, posted a well-worn racist meme on social media with the Trump-Pence campaign logo emblazoned proudly on the bottom.
The image was one of a bowl of Skittles, with the text reading: ‘If I had a bowl of skittles and I told you just three would kill you. Would you take a handful? That’s our Syrian refugee problem.’
This image says it all. Let’s end the politically correct agenda that doesn’t put America first. #trump2016 pic.twitter.com/9fHwog7ssN
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) September 19, 2016
Naturally, the internet was quick to tear down the Trumps, with many sharing images of the thousands of children injured, displaced and traumatized by continuing Syrian conflict.
They’re not #Skittles @realDonaldTrump – they’re human beings. pic.twitter.com/fJYQSxqxiS
— JC (@jamescoleman07) September 21, 2016
These are people, not Skittles pic.twitter.com/LXPv7JULPM
— Colin Jones (@colinjones) September 20, 2016
Refugees are human beings. Not skittles. Over half are children.
— Rachel Held Evans (@rachelheldevans) September 20, 2016
@DonaldJTrumpJr This is the refugee crisis. Not skittles. This. #SkittlesWelcome @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/IYPIUwTHdv
— Sheila G. (@Sheila_Gotti) September 20, 2016
Even Skittles shared their disgust at the meme.
A rep for @Skittles gives me their response to @DonaldJTrumpJr pic.twitter.com/OmkJQkIqug
— Seth Abramovitch (@SethAbramovitch) September 20, 2016
Now it transpires that the photographer of the original is himself a refugee.
David Kittos told the BBC “In 1974, when I was six-years old, I was a refugee from the Turkish occupation of Cyprus, so I would never approve the use of this image against refugees.”
“This was not done with my permission, I don’t support his politics and I would never take his money to use it,” he said.
“I would like the Trump campaign to delete the image, but they are probably not interested in what I have to say,” Kittos continued.
“I was thinking about getting lawyers involved but I don’t know if I have the patience. This isn’t about the money for me. They could have just bought a cheap image from a micro stock library. This is pure greed from them. I don’t think they care about my feelings. They should not be stealing an image full stop.”
