Controversy Erupts: Mickey Mouse Chosen as Mascot for Conservative Clothing Brand, Critics Cry Foul

WARNING: The following article mentions and/or discusses topics that may be distressing for certain audiences. Viewer discretion is advised. 

Grunt Style, a popular military-based clothing company, has joined forces with Mickey Mouse, using the famous character in a shocking way to promote violence, and we don’t know how to feel.

Mickey Mouse, initially created in 1928, has seen his fair share of use over the decades. Created by Ub Iwerks and Walt Disney, the most famous rodent in the world has become an American icon, easily recognizable by anyone, despite their race, location, or language.

Although used solely by The Walt Disney Company for over 90 years, a little over a month ago, Mickey Mouse, at least a specific version of him, entered the public domain.

Since then, we’ve seen Steamboat Willie, an early version of our beloved mouse, used just about everywhere, from video games to horror films. Now, Mickey has entered into a new venture, promoting Grunt Style’s specific apparel line.

Grunt Style

Grunt Style is a clothing brand specializing in patriotic apparel for men and women. It is known for its high-quality apparel that combines style and a strong sense of American pride. Grunt Style offers a wide selection of t-shirts, hoodies, and other apparel items that feature bold designs and slogans reflecting the red-blooded, blue-collar spirit.

Related: Disney Officially Loses Rights To Mickey Mouse, Multiple Characters Next

The brand has gained popularity among military veterans, first responders, and those who admire their service and sacrifice. Grunt Style is recognized for its dedication to honoring the brave men and women who serve in the United States military and other essential roles within the community.

Their apparel is designed to evoke a sense of nostalgia, showcasing the heart and pride of the American spirit.

But the thing about Grunt Style is that although they promote patriotic ideas such as freedom, often the company uses triggering ideas and phrases on their clothing. Guns, bloody knives, and alcohol are all part of their veteran-affiliated lines, each backed by a beer guarantee.

“What’s a beer guarantee?” you might be wondering. Well, according to Grunt Style’s website, it’s just a return policy in which the company’s customer service department will replace your clothing item if there is any issue with it.

Grunt Style has a ton of offerings that allow users to browse GS limited custom apparel, take advantage of a limited-time offer, or even participate in community events such as Grunt Fest.

Grunt Style and Mickey Mouse

Grunt Style has a ton of merchandise available to shoppers, and they often utilize popular culture to create branding for their clothing lines.

Outside their official Grunt Style logo, patrons can find shirts and shorts featuring a play on Lucky Charms, Albert Einstein, and Schoolhouse Rock. If that doesn’t tickle your fancy, you can also order custom apparel, still backed by their beer guarantee.

Related: Public Domain Debate Leads Fans to Recall Scandalous Moments of Mickey Mouse

However, as seen via Facebook promotional ads, their latest line goes well beyond making small tweaks here and there to avoid lawsuits. Much like many other companies, Grunt Style has taken advantage of the public domain and is now using Steamboat Willie, all dressed in military garb, ready to kill.

The United States-based company has painted Mickey Mouse in a brand new light, arming him with a rifle and sending him off to war. Patrons can now purchase these shirts for either men or women, while displaying their patriotic love for country, beer, and high-quality apparel.

The use of Steamboat Willie is one thing, but Grunt Style took it a step further by including him in a “kill pedophile” clothing campaign. The shirts and hoodies included paint Steamboat Willie with an M-4 rifle and are all branded with the phrase, “Kill Your Local Pedophile.”

The choice is interesting as many conservative groups have made claims against Disney for harboring pedophiles, promoting child pornography, and more.

Discounts

As a company that almost exclusively caters to veterans and first responders, of course, Grunt Style offers a military discount on their sale items. Members of any United State Armed Forces branch, past or present, police officers, fire fighters, and EMS workers can all enjoy this discount while, which is offered on all Grunt Style products.

Whether it’s their tank black line, steel beach apparel, their red blood blue collar section, or their new Mickey Mouse line, if you’ve served the country in any capacity, you can look forward to a 10% discount as a “Thank you,” for a great job.

Related: Disney Honors World War II Hero at Magic Kingdom

Interestingly enough, all of Grunt Style designs fall under registered trademarks, so if you’re wanting to check them out, feel free to click here. Still, regarding their use of Steamboat Willie, it’s a tough pill to swallow seeing our beloved mouse used to promote violence, even if The Walt Disney Company themselves have done the same in the past during wartime.

This post Controversy Erupts: Mickey Mouse Chosen as Mascot for Conservative Clothing Brand, Critics Cry Foul appeared first on Disney Dining.