Hyatt Hotels Slams “Abhorrent” Nazi Imagery After CPAC Stage Controversy And Conservatives Cry Foul

Hyatt Hotels seems to be having hosting regrets after the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) inevitably stirred up controversy over the past week.

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While there were quite a few startling takeaways from the event, it was the main stage’s similarities to a specific design of the Odal rune coopted by Nazis and still in use by modern white supremacists that caused the most trouble.

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Whether the design was an intentional dog whistle or a carelessly dumb mistake, the resemblance was undeniable, and people on Twitter demanded answers.

Hyatt issued a statement on Sunday noting that CPAC organizers had claimed the similarities to Nazi imagery were a coincidence, but that the hotel chain takes “the concern raised about the prospect of symbols of hate being included in the stage design at CPAC 2021 very seriously as all such symbols are abhorrent and unequivocally counter to our values as a company.”

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After pointing any potential outrage towards the American Conservative Union, which organized the event, Hyatt later released a second statement slamming CPAC attendees for responding with hostility when they were asked to wear masks.

The company also said that it supports “a culture that is characterized by empathy, respect and diversity of opinions and backgrounds.”

No small number of people have expressed confusion over what, exactly, Hyatt was expecting when they agreed to host CPAC, particularly less than two months after conservatives were responsible for attacking the Capitol.

They’re denying they knew the stage was a Nazi-inspired prop. Now they’re complaining that their staff was mistreated and the attendees refused to wear masks. They knew who they were hosting and now they’re the victims? I’m not buying it. @Hyatt, what did you expect?

— McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 (1927) (@Joseph_Joe_M) March 1, 2021

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Hyatt bigs want us to believe they didn’t know who they were dealing with, which isn’t even a little credible, but if they want a bit more cover, they can spell out who designed and ordered up the stage. https://t.co/YbbFbGsq3J

— Brian Beutler (@brianbeutler) March 1, 2021

NOW they worry about subjecting “colleagues” (low-wage labor they exploit to the max possible) to the inevitable abuses R’s gleefully and consistently inflict on the powerless. Funny they didn’t consider that before.

— ChristineMoreSo (@Christi46201619) March 1, 2021

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The ACU has clapped back at Hyatt, blaming a favored Republican scapegoat — cancel culture — for their belated stand against hate.

The organizers called concern over the stage design an “orchestrated assault” and claim Hyatt had more oversight over the event than they’re letting on.

They also say that “Jewish Board members, staff, speakers, and attendees are appalled by the Hyatt leadership for not standing with us as we fight against antisemitism,” though the way in which they are supposedly doing so and expected Hyatt to stand with them is unclear.

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While everyone goes back and forth over a single stage design, however, others have readily pointed out that this rune conspiracy theory may be a situation where people are getting far too caught up in the details — no one actually has to look that deep to find the racism in the Republican party.

REPUBLICANS: [explicit white supremacist rhetoric for days straight]

TWITTER: did you see the shape of their stage. maybe its a hidden message

— lvl 46 dog-faced pony potus (@thetomzone) February 27, 2021

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*First Published: March 2, 2021, 7:19 am