Build-A-Bear forced to apologise over Charlie Kirk controversy
A Build-A-Bear store in Seattle, United States, has been forced to apologise over a Charlie Kirk controversy.
Ever since the 31-year-old right-wing campaigner's murder last month (10 September), which saw Kirk fatally shot in the neck - allegedly by suspected shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson - while speaking at a Utah Valley University event, many supporters have taken it upon themselves to find their own ways to 'pay tribute' to him.
This included one person ordering Kirk's favourite Starbucks beverage, which was a Mint Majesty tea with two honeys, and asking for his name to be written on the cup - something which sparked quite the controversy on social media after the barista refused to do so.
It prompted MAGA heads all over to go to their local Starbucks chain to try out what soon became a viral trend, which has now inspired a similar one which takes place at the stuffed animal store, Build-A-Bear.
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Now, for anyone not in the know of the shop's concept, it basically offers an interactive process where the stuffed animal of the customer's choice is assembled and tailored to their own preferences, including varying scents, sounds, looks, and outfits.
Additionally, one of the most unique aspects of Build-a-Bear Workshop is that each soft toy created in-store receives a 'birth certificate'.
The personalised certificate includes details like the date of creation, the chosen name for the stuffed animal and a unique ID number.
However, one teenager from Washington said she was left shocked after a Build-A-Bear store manager at the Southcenter Mall outside Seattle allegedly refused to print Kirk's on her plush toy’s birth certificate.
Evi McCormick, 16, spoke to King 5 News about the situation, explaining: "She just didn’t agree with it. She didn’t support it and she told me, 'We’re not doing this.' "
She claimed she was so upset by the experience that she handed her card to her friend Kailie Lang to pay for the toy and left the store.
"It definitely made us all very uncomfortable," Lang recalled.
A customer service representative at Build-A-Bear’s corporate office assured the outlet that the matter was being handled internally.
Amber McCormick, Evi’s mother, also explained that she had been in touch with a staff member at corporate headquarters for nearly an hour and was offered a $20 gift card for the unsatisfying customer service.
Just a matter of days later, the company reached out to McCormick again to apologise and admitted the incident should not have happened and informed her that they would re-train their Seattle-area workforce to keep politics away from teddy bears.
"She said that their goal is to try to prevent this sort of situation from happening to anybody else," the mum added.
Tyla has reached out to Build-A-Bear for comment.
Topics: Charlie Kirk, US News, Social Media, Politics
Rhiannon Ingle