MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell sparks outrage over alleged white supremacist message in new ad

By Charlie Sawyer

Published Sep 23, 2024 at 12:22 PM

Reading time: 1 minute

61734

American businessman and extreme conservative Mike Lindell is well-known in the US for a plethora of reasons. For one, he’s the founder and CEO of MyPillow, a company that is so self-assured in its abilities that it once claimed its pillows could cure insomnia and multiple sclerosis. But it’s Lindell’s obsession with both Donald Trump and the so-called “election fraud” of 2020 that has turned him into one of the States’ most ferocious conspiracy theorists.

So, why is Lindell currently making headlines? Well, it turns out that the businessman might be once again using his company to reiterate to the general public exactly where his allegiance lies.

The MyPillow CEO has been receiving swaths of backlash after his company began selling discounted pillows at the exact price of $14.88. Confused? So was I at first. Well, allegedly, the number 1488 has long extensive ties to white supremacy.

https://twitter.com/MyPillowUSA/status/1837171459019489401

Specifically, it is a combination of two very well-known racist hate symbols: 14 and 88. According to the ADL, 14 is shorthand for the “14 Words” slogan: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The second number, 88, stands for “Heil Hitler,” H being the 8th letter of the alphabet.

Put these two specific numbers together and you have a very overt and definite endorsement of the racist and violent beliefs of white supremacists.

Lindell already features on social media quite a bit, primarily because his unhinged demeanour and overall inability to have a calm conversation make for quite the funny video:

And so it was no surprise that shortly after people caught onto the $14.88 controversy, the businessman began trending on X. Indeed, a lot of netizens felt very strongly that there is no way Lindell would not have been aware of the racist connotations of the publicised price, especially given his many ties to right-wing Christian nationalists.

https://twitter.com/3vanSutton/status/1837530765615043018
https://twitter.com/NO0dlyAppendage/status/1837843839354024040

Lindell has not responded to any of the criticism and discourse online. Moreover, the company’s post on X publicising the promotion, which was first shared on 20 September 2024, is still up. However, given Lindell’s evident extreme dedication to ‘the cause’, I can’t imagine we’ll be seeing an apology statement anytime soon.

Keep On Reading

By Abby Amoakuh

Who is Laura Loomer, the right-wing conspiracy theorist threatening Donald Trump’s campaign?

By Charlie Sawyer

Gun safety expert warns how crucial Gen Z’s vote will be in 2024 US presidential election

By Charlie Sawyer

Did Tim Cheese murder John Pork, and how is Simon Claw involved? The lore, explained

By Charlie Sawyer

Chris Brown is facing over 10 years in prison. Here’s how his violent past has led him here

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

Why do Gen Zers think KFC is using human meat? Unpacking the controversy behind the chain’s latest ad

By Eliza Frost

Kylie Jenner now follows Timothée Chalamet on Instagram, but he doesn’t follow her back

By Charlie Sawyer

Australian actor Joseph Zada cast as Haymitch Abernathy in upcoming Hunger Games prequel

By Abby Amoakuh

Chappell Roan faces backlash from TikTok moms for likening motherhood to hell

By Charlie Sawyer

22-year-old groom arrested after police find 9-year-old bride at staged Disneyland wedding

By Abby Amoakuh

Epstein and Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre becomes centre of conspiracy theories after revealing she has days to live

By Abby Amoakuh

John Lithgow fumbles JK Rowling question as Harry Potter TV show cast struggles with fan backlash

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

MrBeast hunts for volunteers to test the viral question: who would win between 100 men and one gorilla?

By Eliza Frost

What is the Gen Z stare, and why are millennials on TikTok so bothered by it?

By Fatou Ferraro Mboup

How incel TikTok accounts are rebranding to avoid getting banned

By Eliza Frost

All the Tea on the new app that lets women vet men and date safely

By Abby Amoakuh

Only at Coachella can you be caught saying the N-word and still perform without question

By Charlie Sawyer

Meghan Trainor is not responsible for eradicating fatphobia. But her fans also have a right to be upset

By Charlie Sawyer

Madison Beer opens up about reconnecting with the person who leaked her explicit photos as a teen

By Eliza Frost

How fans manifested Elle Fanning as Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping

By Charlie Sawyer

Fans express concern after Harry Potter TV series announces the casting of Harry, Ron, and Hermione