Design firm had 'no idea' CPAC stage resembled Nazi symbol, but takes responsibility after liberal conspiracy spirals out of hand

The design firm behind a stage setup at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) has emphatically dismissed conspiracy theories that their work was intended to resemble Nazi insignia.

Design Foundry, a firm based in Maryland, has come forward to say they “had no idea” their stage layout for the conservative conference held last week in Orlando, Florida resembled the Othala Rune, a symbol found on Nazi uniforms. 

The resemblance was highlighted by numerous critics on social media following the event, with even host Hyatt Hotels releasing a statement calling the supposed connection “abhorrent” and saying they had raised concerns with organizers. 

In a statement to the Jewish website Forward, Design Foundry insisted the stage was constructed as it was simply to “provide the best use of space, given the constraints of the ballroom and social distancing requirements.” The company said it is “saddened” and “horrified” at the accusations that they helped promote antisemitism.

Foundry has done work for major corporations and events in the past – including MSNBC, Google and even the Biden Cancer Summit in 2018 – but CPAC said it will no longer be using their services in the future thanks to the “unwelcome distraction.”

“It’s clear that the company we retained designed a stage that has become an unwelcome distraction. As a result, we will not be using that company’s services going forward at future events,” Ian Walters, the group’s director of communications, told Forward. 

Conspiracy theories were numerous at CPAC, where former president Donald Trump on Sunday made his first public appearance since leaving the White House. But many critics are now pointing to the unnecessary fallout as another example of meritless misinformation being taken too far in the name of political correctness.

“Great work conspiracy theorists,” journalist Yashar Ali tweeted, noting the design firm’s work with the Biden family in 2018 and its CEO Annie Senatore’s own liberal politics as proof of the baselessness of the claims.

“There was no need to jump the gun on this, companies need to do better at ignoring Twitter noise until they have full facts,” Republican advisor Matt Whitlock added, saying Hyatt Hotels had “poured fuel on the fire” before doing any research.

Hyatt has also found itself the target of attacks by liberals for hosting CPAC in the first place, with numerous prominent Democrats calling for a boycott of the corporation for hosting “Nazis.”

After the hotel chain released statements distancing themselves from the conference and seemingly legitimizing the swirling conspiracy theories, CPAC organizers blasted the company for “caving into the pressures of the politically motivated social media agitators who seek to destroy CPAC, our attendees and speakers from across the country, and the millions of Americans who support our work.”

Like this story? Share it with a friend!