We called the companies that the Redskins called offensive
The Washington Redskins, you may have heard, filed a rather unusual brief in federal court Tuesday.
Washington is appealing the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s decision to cancel the trademark for “Redskins” and is making its case by pointing out that trademarks have been granted for other names and phrases it says are offensive.
(Our editors say the names of trademarks are mostly too vulgar to print here, so we’ve gone way over the top and censored them all just to be safe. Deadspin has them helpfully blockquoted, though.)
We called those companies to see what they think about Dan Snyder’s team’s name. Sadly, we could only contact a few of the companies because several are sketchy offshore outfits or operate out of strip malls in Jacksonville.
Tranquil Blue Corp. — Owners of the P---- W--- S---- trademark
“I don’t really care. I’ve never met a Native American so I don’t want to speak for anyone.”
Nick Orlandino, CEO of Pipedream Products — Owners of the E----- C--------- G---- P------, A--- F------ and M----- M-- trademarks
“I think their level of play is offensive. Dan Snyder is a whack job. He is the Donald Trump of football. I don’t find the name to be offensive, though. I played a team called the Redskins when I was growing up and I always thought of it as any other mascot. Like having an army guy on your helmet.”
Chris Weeks, manager for the rap group N---- R----
“That is a hilarious contention. Being a quarter Native American the name is definitely offensive. I think we have become desensitized to the objectification of Native Americans. For him to call out an African American group named N---- R---- is hilarious.”
Sarah Fendley, owner of Big City Coffee in Boise — Owner of the B-- T---- B---- trademark
(Washington’s lawyers even managed to disparage a charitable effort. B-- T---- B---- was created after Fendley lost a friend to breast cancer and $1 from every sale goes toward a breast cancer charity.)
“We have raised enough funds this year to fund 175 mammograms and if that's offensive then don't buy my coffee.”
Marie Cecile Anderson and Katy Frame, members of the musical duo R------- W-----
“Well, we’re a comedy band that sings funny songs that empower women and men. They're a football team that has a pointlessly racist name. We use the name R------- W----- in an ironic way that enhances our message and comedy. They play football while maintaining a pointlessly racist name... To have the Redskins say that our name is as offensive as a terrible as a worn out racial slur is insane and pretty desperate of them. If we had a chance, we'd love to tell them ‘Hey dudes, Get over it. Your name is waaaaaayyyyy more offensive than ours, but thanks for the free publicity!’”
Jason Greenfield, owner of the trademark for C--------- S---- D----- B----
“Comparing our statement on an economic system with a slur against a group of people is ridiculous and offensive. Maybe not as offensive as their team name, but still pretty offensive.”
