Thread: Outrage as Russian firm milks chilly US-Kremlin ties with 'Little Obama' ice cream

Outrage as Russian firm milks chilly US-Kremlin ties with 'Little Obama' ice cream

A Russian company has introduced 'Little Obama' ice cream to cash in on cool relations between the two superpowers

The ice cream is glazed with chocolate, and the wrapping features a smiling young African boy wearing an earring

Company claims the ice cream is 'cheerful' and inspired by a Soviet film

A U.S. official has called it 'discriminatory' and 'racist'

By REUTERS PUBLISHED: 11:09 EST, 6 May 2016 | UPDATED: 10:49 EST, 7 May 2016

A Russian company is trying tocash in on chilly relations between Moscow and Washington by releasing an ice cream called 'Little Obama,' irritating U.S.officials.

The product, called 'Obamka' in Russian, is glazed with chocolate and its wrapping features an image of a smiling youngAfrican boy, wearing an earring and holding an ice cream.

A Russian company debuted its new chocolate-glazed ice cream, named after the U.S. President


President Obama, above, may like his ice cream but chances are he wouldn't appreciate being called 'Little Obamka'

With relations at a post-Cold War low since Russia's 2014annexation of Crimea and its military intervention in Syria,Russian state media and pro-Kremlin activists have often beratedand mocked President Barack Obama in terms that U.S. officialshave described as racist and insulting.

The company that makes the ice cream, Slavitsa, said in astatement that it was part of a range aimed at childrenfeaturing 'cheerful' characters.

'With different flavours and glazes, the ice creamsymbolises the main races of people on our planet,' it said,adding that the picture of the boy had been inspired by a Sovietfilm.

'Ice cream names need to be memorable. For those with a richimagination, various associations might arise, but this productis for children and is a long way from politics.'

A U.S. official, who declined to be named because of thesubject's sensitivity, told Reuters he saw the ice cream as partof a disturbing pattern.

A cafe in Russia reportedly has presidential toilet paper stocked in its bathrooms - above, toilet paper with
Obama's face on it is sold on a website Obama Toilet Paper

'While I haven't seen this particular product for sale, weare disappointed by the media-driven anti-Americanism that hasbecome so prevalent in Russia over the past few years,particularly when it takes on a discriminatory or racist bent,' the official said.

Slavitsa is based in Krasnoyarsk, a Siberian city that hitthe headlines last month after a cafe dedicated to VladimirPutin opened there, luring visitors with dozens of pictures ofthe Russian president.

The cafe features Obama's face on toilet paper in itsrestrooms, while toilet mats bear the colours of the U.S. flag.

Outrage as Russian firm milks chilly US-Kremlin ties with 'Little Obama' ice cream

http://www.alipac.us/f19/putin-cafe-...ght=putin+cafe

Russians mock Obama with racist birthday message projected on U.S. Embassy - Washington Times


By Cheryl K. Chumley - The Washington Times - Thursday, August 7, 2014