(Ezekiel Loseke, Headline USA) Following the Supreme Court’s decision in 303 Creative v. Elenis, which held that states cannot force businesses to endorse homosexual marriages or other “speech” that is offensive to them, left-wing activists are now deliberating ways to discriminate against Trump supporters in retaliation.
Michael Imperioli, a character actor known for his work on Mafia movies and HBO series like The Sopranos, announced via Instagram that he had “decided to forbid bigots and homophobes from watching The Sopranos, The White Lotus, Goodfellas or any movie or tv show I’ve been in,” according to PJ Media.
“Thank you Supreme Court for allowing me to discriminate and exclude those who I don’t agree with and am opposed to,” he wrote. “USA ! USA!”
Imperioli further explained his reasoning in the comments section of the post:
“Hate and ignorance is not [sic] a legitimate point of view,” he said, according to a HuffPost article, which celebrated the commentary. “America is becoming dumber by the minute.”
But on Wednesday, following the attention his post garnered, Imperioli appeared to backpedal, calling his previous statement “satirical and symbolic,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
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Imperioli’s virtue signaling was not the only display of sour-grapes discrimination against conservatives after the ruling.
Several far-left media companies, in their analyses of the court decision, floated veiled threats of an in-kind response from so-called liberals.
“People across the country may encounter a marketplace where a business could invite them in, only to then slam the door because of … what they believe,” said an opinion article published by the Los Angeles Times.
During oral arguments and deliberations, to present a parallel hypothetical, justices invoked the example of a Confederate flag and whether a black-run business might be compelled to support speech that it deemed offensive.
Yet, vengeful leftists saw only one possible parallel in their eyes: Punishing any right-wingers who might celebrate such an affront on LGBT rights.
Ashley St. Clair, of conservative satire site the Babylon Bee, tweeted a photograph of two signs on the window of a small business that proclaimed its intent to discriminate against traditional Christians and Trump supporters.
telling people not to shop at your small business to own republicans pic.twitter.com/K5xYgSiOuR
— Ashley St. Clair (@stclairashley) July 1, 2023
Hardened by recent boycotts of woke businesses that shamelessly flaunted their progressive values, some conservatives were more than happy to oblige any bigoted businesses that decided to show their true colors.
“I accept these terms,” tweeted James V. Barcia, a former Republican speechwriter, in response.
“It’s better than unknowingly filling the pockets of business owners who are closeted leftists,” he added. “The transparency is appreciated.”
I accept these terms. It’s better than unknowingly filling the pockets of business owners who are closeted leftists. The transparency is appreciated. 🎯
— James V. Barcia (@jamesbarcia) July 1, 2023
User @jeanpartington3 agreed with Barcia.
“If someone doesn’t want my business, I’ll just go elsewhere,” wrote the conservative Christian. “I don’t want to do business with someone who hates me.”
I agree.
If someone doesn't want my business, I'll just go elsewhere. I don't want to do business with someone who hates me.
— Sparrow (@jeanpartington3) July 1, 2023
Some, citing the recent boycotts of woke companies such as that of Bud Light, predicted poor results for the businesses dis-inviting conservative consumers.
User @haymoose, called it “the most imaginative ”going out of business’ sign I’ve ever seen.”
That’s the most imaginative “going out of business” sign I’ve ever seen.
— Haymoose (@haymoose) July 1, 2023
