The backlash continues for a Nashville hat store, HatWRKS, after an Instagram post featuring a “not vaccinated” text line on top of a yellow Star of David patch prompted anger and protests outside of the business.
Protestors hung a “no Nazis in Nashville” banner over the storefront on Saturday in response to the post, where the yellow patches appeared to mimic those worn by Jews in Germany while Adolf Hitler was in power.
Other protestors carried signs, including one that said “sell hats not hate,” according to photos shared to Twitter by reporter Nikki McGee after HatWRKS’ deleted the controversial post on the social media platform.
Protest happening now outside of HatWRKS following controversial Instagram post that showed the shop’s owner wearing a yellow patch resembling the Star of David that read the words “not vaccinated”. @WKRN pic.twitter.com/vVhDqb6RvD
— Nikki McGee (@NikkiMcGeeWKRN) May 29, 2021
HatWRKS is run by hatmaker Gigi Gaskins who shared the social media post with the star patches that sparked the controversy, according to The Tennessean.
The business issued a defense of the post on Instagram after they deleted it.
“People are so outraged by my post? But are you outraged with the tyranny the world is experiencing? If you don’t understand what is happening, that is on you not me. I pay much more respect to history by standing up with the fallen than offering silence and compliance,” the statement read.
Now several hat brands are severing their ties with HatWRKS.
“Due to the recent offensive content shared by Hatwrks in Nashville, Goorin Bros. has ended their distribution with this business effective immediately. Thank you for the continued support,” Goorin Bros. tweeted on Sunday.
Company Tula Hats based in Austin, Texas responded to the controversy on Facebook Saturday and wrote “I am aware of the situation with our former vendor Hatwrks in Nashville and appreciate those who messaged. Tula does not condone antisemitism or discrimination of any kind. We have asked to be removed from their website as a supplier.”
Stetson, one of the most recognizable hat manufacturers in the U.S., also removed its products from the store, it said Saturday.
“As a result of the offensive content and opinions shared by HatWRKS in Nashville, Stetson and our distribution partners will cease the sale of all Stetson products. We thank you for your continued support and patience,” Stetson said in a Twitter post.
Global brand Bailey Hats followed Tula Hats’ actions and decided to cease working with HatWRKS.
“We have given Gigi Gaskins at hatWRKS Nashville a chance to change. We feel strongly we were right to give her this opportunity. However, additional posts on her feed, and the refusal to remove past offensive posts, make it clear to us that her apology is not sincere,” the company posted on Facebook.
“We are permanently terminating hatWRKS Nashville as a customer of our brand effective immediately,” Bailey Hats’ statement added.
Company Kangol Headwear wrote on Instagram Saturday that they gave Gaskins a chance to change but decided to terminate HatWRKS as a customer of their brand.
“However, her further posts indicate to us that she is not sincere in her apology, nor has she removed offensive posts from her feed. We are permanently terminating hatWRKS Nashville as a customer of our brand effective immediately,” Kangol Headwear’s post stated.
“The use of the Star of David by our customer as a statement against vaccination was not just insensitive, but disrespectful and wrong,” their post added.
HatWRKS issued an apology statement on Instagram Saturday that said “in no way did I intend to trivialize the Star of David or disrespect what happened to millions of people. That is not who I am & what I stand for. My intent was not to exploit or make a profit.”
Newsweek reached out to HatWRKS for further comment.
Stephanie Keith/Getty Images
