Restaurant's Ill-Advised 'Black Olives Matter' Sign Sparks Controversy

A restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mexico has come under fire for a sign advertising its latest special: ahi tuna with tapenade. In what was meant as a play on the Black Lives Matter movement, Paisano's hung the words "BLACK OLIVES MATTER — TRY OUR TAPENADE" on its marquee.

Owner Rick Camuglia told told KRQE News he thought it was "a cute play on words to promote our special ahi tuna." Not all of Paisano's patrons agreed: One woman, who identified herself as a person of color, took to the restaurant's Facebook page to call it a "hateful public display of what passes to you as humor." Another commenter suggested that the restaurant had deleted posts written by other black women.

Other patrons applauded the sign. One commenter wrote "Black olives matter because they behave" and, in response to a separate post, added "Go Trump 2016. Love the olives and the pizza!!!"

In a response on Facebook, Camuglia said the restaurant had seen an outpouring of support since the incident was first reported.

"Many have shown a unique way to show solidarity," reads the post. "I can't count the number of customer's orders who've included adding black olives to every dish ordered. Pizzas, sandwiches and pasta dishes with 'double black olives please!' all day long. So much that we almost ran out and ordered more."

No word on how the tapenade is prepared, but it's safe to say the marquee at least was made in poor taste.

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