The Trump admin is so toxic, brands now have crisis responses for being used in propaganda
One of toy company Hasbro’s marquee pieces of intellectual property went through a different transformation than usual last week. Thanks to a series of social media posts by the Department of Homeland Security, Transformers, the venerable robots-disguised-as-trucks franchise, got a full-on MAGA makeover. In one entry, the series’ most recognizable character, Optimus Prime, is covered in DHS logos…
On a recent week, a notable transformation occurred with Hasbro's popular Transformers franchise. The Department of Homeland Security's social media posts led to a MAGA makeover of the iconic robot-trucks series. The series' most recognizable character, Optimus Prime, was adorned with DHS logos for a fictitious AI poster promoting a non-existent film called Transformers: Age of Deportation.
Hasbro swiftly disavowed the copyright infringement through an Instagram message, but that was not the end of their response. The company also outlined the values Optimus Prime represents, highlighting that these values conflict with the propaganda ideas expressed by the DHS. This situation is unprecedented for a toy company to announce that its fictional robot truck, unlike the U.S. government, stands for principles such as leadership and justice.
The scenario is not unique to Hasbro. Just a week before, the White House launched a jingoist retro online arcade featuring a Tetris knockoff called "Build the Wall." After this unlicensed creation, the company behind the classic puzzle game issued a statement distancing its IP from the White House's unauthorized abomination and reiterated the values Tetris stands for. However, this time, the company also promised legal action. The White House subsequently removed "Build the Wall" from its online platform.
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