Marine Corps Draws Backlash After ‘Celebrating’ Pride With Rainbow Bullets
If you’re out of the loop, the beginning of June marks the start of Pride Month, with the world’s major brands showing their allegiance to the celebratory cause through special-edition launches, heartwarming messages, or by incorporating a rainbow flag into their designs.
However, despite it only being two days into the month, a Pride Month message from the United States Marine Corps (USMC) has already sparked outrage on social media, and could possibly be one of the worst faux pas of the year.
In a tweet on its official account, the Marines said: “Throughout June, the USMC takes #Pride in recognizing and honoring the contributions of our LGBTQ service members. We remain committed to fostering an environment free from discrimination, and defend the values of treating all equally, with dignity and respect.”
While the tweet itself seems fine and dandy, the accompanying image—one of a combat helmet with six rainbow-colored bullets—that drew the ire of the social media community. Ironically, it seems the picture was inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket, an anti-war movie.
As per Input, the imagery and messaging, along with the Marines’ problematic history regarding the ‘Don’t Ask Don’t Tell’ policy, was more than enough to stir the pot on what was supposed to be the start of a month celebrating the LGBTQ+ community.
Take a look at some of the most popular Twitter reactions below.
i know we are all pretty desensitized & irony-poisoned to some degree by now but goddamn lmao https://t.co/cxvEoHeFcv
— mullet o'brien (@borgposting) June 1, 2022
wow i feel so seen and appreciated by the US Marines
— Tatiana 🌈 (@tatianawrites) June 1, 2022
You do understand this is an anti-war movie, right?
— Delance (@delance2) June 1, 2022
Right? pic.twitter.com/cPnkKTmzdA
you could’ve just tweeted this instead and it would’ve meant the same thing you know pic.twitter.com/wyw1m0uIiI
— Viathan ðŸ³ï¸ðŸŒˆ (@VermilViathan) June 1, 2022
incredible stuff here pic.twitter.com/s5ylwG1mYu
— shoe (@shoe0nhead) June 1, 2022
Wait…. This isn’t parody?
— Wembly Gobo (@WemblyGobo) June 2, 2022
[via Input and Daily Dot, cover image via United States Marine Corps]
