Italian restaurant faces backlash over 'insensitive' 'Black Olives Matter' sign

The restaurant has since seen an uptick in business

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An Italian restaurant was forced to changed its marquee after sparking outrage over a “Black Lives Matter” pun used to advertise a nightly special.

“Black olives matter – Try our tapenade,” the Paisano’s marquee read, seemingly making light of the national movement against police violence that has claimed the lives of black people in the US.

“We thought it was a cute play on words to promote our special Ahi tuna tonight,” owner Rick Camuglia told KRQE. “We didn’t think anybody would be offended by that. It was not our intent to offend.”

Mr Camuglia reportedly posted an image of the marquee on Facebook, where he says it was met with anger as the photo went viral. He eventually deleted the post.

According to the Washington Post, one commenter, who said she was a person of colour, said, “The civilised world no longer has any tolerance for your hateful public display of what passes to you as humour. Young men and women are dying. Have a shred of humanity.”

Another said, “I love a good joke, but there are things that you just don’t joke about.”

A number of commenters came to Mr Camuglia’s defence.

“As a chef I understand that you weren’t trying to be offense,” they wrote. “In our industry humour is the only thing that takes the stress away from our job. It’s unfortunate the only people who work in the trade will understand.”

After taking the post down, Mr Camuglia had a suggestion for offended parties.

“I think if that offends people, a statement about black olives, that somebody needs to reevaluate their politically correct meter,” he said.

Harold Bailey, president of the Albuquerque branch of the NAACP, told KRQE that while the sign was a “good marketing idea”, he hopes the restaurant learns from this experience.

“[W]ith all of the national uproar, demonstrations, and marches regarding the shooting of African American men and youth by police officers, the Albuquerque NAACP feels that [the sign] was in bad taste,” he said. “The decision to take it down is appreciated.”

“Unjustified killing of innocent Black men is nothing to joke about,” Mr Bailey added. “Whether it was intentional or not, it sent the wrong message to many.”

Paisano’s issued a statement after the controversy on its Facebook page thanking patrons for the outpouring of support.

“Many have shown a unique way to show solidarity,” the post read. “I can't count the number of customer's orders who've included adding Black Olives to every dish ordered. Pizzas, Sandwiches and pasta dishes with ‘double Black Olives Please!’ all day long.

“So much that we almost ran out and ordered more.”