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Chia Obama Dropped By Walgreens Amidst Cries of Racism
By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 8, 2009
Modified Apr 8, 2009
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By
John Del Signore
Published Apr 8, 2009
Modified Apr 8, 2009
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Hail to the Ch-Ch-Ch-Chief? A chia pet in President Obama's likeness is only the second chia pet to be based on a human (the other being Mr. T), but unlike its kitschy predecessor, this one has prompted some objections from those who think it's racist. Walgreens has now pulled the product from its shelves in Tampa and Chicago after receiving some complaints. It's unclear whether it was ever sold in New York; managers at several area Walgreens told us they had never heard of it. But not to worry! 76-year-old Chia founder Joseph Pedott—a white Republican who says he voted for Obama—tells the Daily News he's in negotiations with local drugstore chains to distribute Chia Obama here in the coming weeks. (In the meantime, it's available on line.) The product is Pedott's top seller, and he asks, in all seriousness, "Since when is an Afro racist?"
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John Del Signore
Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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