After one Texas woman saw an item for sale at Hobby Lobby, she blasted the national craft store, claiming the merchandise was “insensitive” and “racist.” When she demanded they stop selling the item, things didn’t end well for the upset woman.
Daniell Rider was shopping at Hobby Lobby in 2017 when she came across a glass vase she deemed “racist.” Rider’s issue was that the clear glass vase in question had cotton stocks. Rider was so offended by the display that she complained directly on Hobby Lobby’s Facebook page.
“This decor is WRONG on SO many levels,” Rider wrote in her post. “There is nothing decorative about raw cotton… A commodity which was gained at the expense of African-American slaves. A little sensitivity goes a long way. PLEASE REMOVE THIS ‘decor.’”
The post quickly gained attention and went viral. In less than a week, more than 210,000 people commented and nearly 20,000 shared the post. Many viewers chastised Rider for the post, claiming that cotton is not inherently offensive.
“It’s a plant,” one user commented. “Chill.”
“All those who are offended [by] cotton being a decoration need to quit buying any product made of cotton!” another added. “What difference does it make if it’s a decoration or part of a product. You’re being hypocritical if you’re offended by cotton being a decoration and not offended by any product made of cotton.”
“Honestly it’s part of nature and history. Get over it. Cotton didn’t hurt anyone,” one woman wrote.
Another man said, “My parents are Latino. They picked cotton. Aaaaaaaaaand I’m not offended.”
Although there were some supporters of the post, there were many more detractors of Rider’s complaints over the supposedly racist cotton decor. A few critics suggested Rider had a hidden agenda with her claims of racism.
“Hobby Lobby is the best hobby store around,” another commented. “Cotton is a natural product. If someone is offended by cotton, take a good look at your clothes. Probably cotton or cotton blend. Get over it. Life isn’t all fun and games. Grow up.”
One incensed social media user wrote, “Oh please. Are you serious? Breathing my air is offensive. And doesn’t that sound stupid? Come on people this is a little extreme I had to read the article to find out why it was so offensive. Grow up.”
“People need to get over themselves and stop being so sensitive to stupid/irrelevant things!!” one user wrote. “There are far more important issues going on in our country, other than cotton on a stick!!! Sounds like someone is just looking to start something with an open Christian company, and of course get their 15 minutes of fame…pathetic!!”
Daniell Rider was taken aback by the reaction and decided to speak up. The Texas native claimed she frequented Hobby Lobby because she enjoys crafting, but she had never seen raw cotton exhibited as a decoration before. “It shocked me,” she said. “I was just taken aback by it because I had never seen it before.”
Rider stated that she first shared the cotton photo on her own Facebook page. “Then, the more I thought about it, I thought, well I’m a consumer and it’s a decor that I don’t agree with,” Rider said, explaining her choice to also share the post on Hobby Lobby’s Facebook page, where it quickly went viral.
Rider claims that within hours of making her complaint with Hobby Lobby, she began receiving unpleasant messages on her personal Facebook page and her inbox was flooded with rude comments. “I started to try to respond to a few of them, but then I realized that people weren’t wanting to have a conversation about it; they were just wanting to tell me how they feel, as mean as possible,” she alleged. She also claimed she received death threats and that many called her racial slurs.
One woman’s remark to Rider seemed to sum up the thoughts of the majority. “This is crazy. Cotton is a fact of life,” she wrote. “People still pick it. That happened 150 years ago. Slaves also picked tobacco, harvested rice, and many other things. We can’t just get rid of them. Well, Lowe’s sells chains and rope. You think they should get rid of that too?” Simply said, if you are looking for a reason to be offended, you will likely find it. If you then publicly complain, you might find yourself also on the receiving end of criticism, as Daniell Rider learned the hard way.
