These days it is expected that someone, somewhere is going to be offended by something in the marketplace. That someone will start mewling and whining on social media, laying out the supposed cultural infraction and then demanding the offending corporation do something about their inability to function effectively if an inanimate object remains on a shelf.

As someone who is averse to being offended, these annual gripe-fests perplex and stupify me. What is ultimately being accomplished, aside from someone coming forward and declaring to the world they cannot cope because something unharmful and not impacting their daily activities exists? This is an activity we have seen from both sides of the political aisle, and it accomplishes little beyond working towards homogenizing our culture.

The latest example is just astounding. The luxury goods store Bath & Body Works has issued a holiday lineup of goods. One item in particular has sparked a backlash, of sorts. It’s a candle. If you are already tilting your head in a perplexed fashion, just wait.

The candle depicts a traditional paper cutout snowflake, the kind kids craft by folding a paper multiple times and then cutting out small shapes, the paper then unfurled in a circle to resemble the ice crystal star. This image is shown on the outside of the candle’s glass jar in an artful closeup angle, featuring the patterned arms in an arc. No wait, we apologize – it’s actually a deeply troubling promotion of a racially intolerant hate group.

#REPORT: Bath and Body Works pulls winter candle after shoppers criticize KKK hood design. pic.twitter.com/Yi1A3MKphM

— 6ixBuzzTV (@6ixbuzztv) October 14, 2024

This - happened. The kind of people online who are described as being sensitive snowflakes complained about a candle with snowflakes. 

If you are someone predisposed to see an image of an arts & crafts project of a Christmas item and see a racist hood – reduced to calling this a “Klan-dle” - it might just be a You problem. We may be approaching Peak 2024. This would likely have been followed by the claim that the term "White Christmas" carries supremacist signaling.

The most egregious aspect of this is that the company, Bath & Body Works, buckled to this online “pressure,” and they have pulled this item from its stores. We do not feel like we should be saying this, but it appears we need to – stop with these vacuous social outrages in the marketplace.

Over the years we've had “controversies” erupt over Starbucks coffee cup graphics, and currently there is supposed upheaval about the depiction of the father in the animated show “Bluey.” These are less than petty grievances – they should be embarrassing. Instead, some folks, emboldened by an online audience, posture and point to make some kind of issue, and it leads to a company bowing to the ginned-up outrage. And what has been accomplished?

In order to not offend any class or religion, Starbucks issues static red cups annually. Today, a candle that certain sensitive minds could not handle is removed from stores – is racism now solved? People who would be perfectly fine avoiding an offensive shop, getting their caffeine from another vendor, or simply switching the channel, are now the focus of social outrage.

The only lasting impression is not on the business, but on the harpy who created this furor. They will now be regarded as the person incapable of operating through life because of a snowflake shown on the side of a candle.