Over the weekend, a controversial poster displayed at the New Hartford Festival of the Arts in New York has sparked significant backlash on social media.
The poster, reportedly created by a district student, parodied a cereal advertisement under the fictitious brand “Monkey Premium,” featuring an image of NBA star LeBron James dunking a basketball.
The offensive advertisement included the slogan “Eat Monkeys, Jump Like Monkeys!” and described the cereal as monkey and banana-shaped grams that supposedly taste like chocolate and banana. It claimed that consuming the cereal could enhance one’s jumping ability temporarily, mimicking LeBron James’s athletic prowess.
The content of the poster was widely condemned for its racist undertones. In response to the incident, superintendent Cosimo Tangorra Jr. released a statement expressing his dismay that such a project was not only produced but also displayed publicly. He emphasized the district’s commitment to creating a safe and inclusive environment, acknowledging that this incident had undermined these values.
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“We understand that there are students, families, staff, and community members who may not feel safe, accepted, or welcome as a result of what transpired. Our school community deserves access to a supportive learning environment where everyone feels respected, included, and safe. We have fallen short of that goal, and we must do better,” Tangorra stated, as reported by TMZ.
According to officials, the individual responsible for the poster has been identified and contacted by authorities.
