Kali Wilgus and Liz “LC” Connelly, owners of Portland
pop-up shop Kooks Burritos, just wanted to make and
sell some really great burritos. So when they were on
a trip to Puerto Nuevo, Mexico, they “picked the
brains” of the local tortilla ladies and brought those
recipes back to the States.
pop-up shop Kooks Burritos, just wanted to make and
sell some really great burritos. So when they were on
a trip to Puerto Nuevo, Mexico, they “picked the
brains” of the local tortilla ladies and brought those
recipes back to the States.
Whelp, apparently this interview sparked an Internet
shitstorm, which ended in Kooks Burritos shutting
down and the two white women who owned it
scrubbing social media of the business’ existence.
shitstorm, which ended in Kooks Burritos shutting
down and the two white women who owned it
scrubbing social media of the business’ existence.
Wilgus and Connelly were accused of cultural
appropriation by the Internet mob, and even the
theft of PoC’s recipes.
appropriation by the Internet mob, and even the
theft of PoC’s recipes.
“Now that you all boldly and pretty fucking
unapologetically stole the basis of these women’s
livelihoods, you can make their exact same product
so other white ppl don’t have to be inconvenienced
dealing with a pesky brown middle woman getting in
their way,” wrote a woman in the interview’s comment
section.
unapologetically stole the basis of these women’s
livelihoods, you can make their exact same product
so other white ppl don’t have to be inconvenienced
dealing with a pesky brown middle woman getting in
their way,” wrote a woman in the interview’s comment
section.
The women became the subject of local editorials
and, of course, fucking Mic.com fanned the flames
with an article, “These white cooks bragged about
stealing recipes from Mexico to start a Portland
business.”
and, of course, fucking Mic.com fanned the flames
with an article, “These white cooks bragged about
stealing recipes from Mexico to start a Portland
business.”
The company’s Yelp reviews are flooded with one-star
reviews from the PC police, using terms like “white
mediocrity” and “Latinx” while comparing Kooks
Burritos to colonialism.
reviews from the PC police, using terms like “white
mediocrity” and “Latinx” while comparing Kooks
Burritos to colonialism.
Soon after the controversy, a list of white-owned
“appropriative” businesses began circulating online,
featuring some of Portland’s top restaurants. The list
also suggested the nearest “PoC alternatives” to
each white business.
“appropriative” businesses began circulating online,
featuring some of Portland’s top restaurants. The list
also suggested the nearest “PoC alternatives” to
each white business.
So to recap, a couple of white ladies learned to
make burritos good while on vacation and now
they are literally comparable to Hernán Cortés.
make burritos good while on vacation and now
they are literally comparable to Hernán Cortés.
Good job, cultural appropriation warriors! You made
the world a better place by shutting down a local
small business.
the world a better place by shutting down a local
small business.
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