On September 9, the US government co-opted yet another beloved franchise to push its agenda. This time, just two weeks after Peter Cullen's death, it slapped Optimus Prime in ICE and Homeland Security memorabilia for a mock-up Transformers: Age Of Deportation poster. A bizarre choice for a character who is literally an alien.
Transformers parent company Hasbro was quick to respond, making it abundantly clear that the iconic Autobot is not aligned with ICE or its anti-immigration messaging. “Optimus Prime is a beloved character who represents humility, leadership, compassion and justice,” the statement reads. “Hasbro is aware of the recent posts using his likeness. These posts were done without permission and do not represent the Transformers brand or Hasbro.”
Fans have since flooded the Department of Homeland Security's post with screenshots of Hasbro's statement, as well as a particularly relevant Optimus Prime quote: “Freedom is the right of all sentient beings.” The official Transformers social accounts even shared the Hasbro message directly with their audience, again making it crystal clear that Optimus Prime wants nothing to do with ICE. And he's not alone.
Japanese officials have spoken out against The White House for damaging its most popular brands, including Naruto and Mario, with these kinds of posts.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.thegamer.com/hasbro-transformers-officially-responds-white-house-ice-optimus-prime/
