Sticker Mule anti-'political hate,' pro-Trump message prompts online firestorm (2024)

Sticker Mule co-founder Anthony Constantino on Sunday circulated an email to customers of the Amsterdam-based custom printing and sauce companycondemning political violence toward Trump supporters and urging an end to emotion-packed “political hate.”

The message was delivered to mixed reviews a day after one rally goer was killed and another was critically injured while a sniper fired multiple rounds targeting the former president during a Butler, Pennsylvania., rally.

In his email message, Constantino said that he fears showing his support for the GOP populist. He noted that “many” employees at the company support presidential candidates Trump and Democratic incumbent Joseph Biden, respectively.

“The political hate needs to stop. Hopefully this email helps.

“Btw, this week, get 1 shirt for $4 (normally $19).

“I suggest buying one that shows you support Trump,” he said.

In response to Constantino's email, customers on X, formerly known as Twitter, threatened to stop buying Sticker Mule products on the basis of Trump’s support of staunch conservative policies and history of stoking violent rhetoric. (Of note, Republicans have also accused Biden and his supporters of creating a toxic political climate by casting Trump as a threat to democracy).

Miami-based custom apparel company Olive & York said in a post on X that they spent $17,041 on Sticker Mule gear and as a result of Constantino’s email, plan to take their business elsewhere.

“Doubling down by emailing everyone they should buy Trump gear, in an email blast titled "Trump 2024" is certainly a choice, Sticker Mule,” the company wrote.

A similar, condensed message — excluding the discount promotion — was also posted on X with a widely circulated picture of a bloody-faced Trump holding up his fist while members of the U.S. Secret Service crowd around him. Trump was grazed in the ear by a sniper bullet before the shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed.

One X user described the post as “taking advantage of a tragedy to make crude political points” and another called it a “big boo boo” from the company. The message even caught the attention of Kevin Cate, an indie filmmaker and former Barack Obama campaign spokesperson.

“All political violence is wrong and yesterday was a sad day for our country. However, that doesn't make Trump's record any less heinous, hateful, and humiliating,” wrote Cate.

Others rallied and pledged to provide more business for Constantino, who didn't immediately respond to a request for comment for this story.

“I will support @stickermule with EVERY sticker purchase I make from now on. Why? Because of your common sense, middle-of-the-road, statement about political hate,” said user Terrence Stuber.

The X post was viewed by more than 8.3 million users, liked by more than 14,000 and shared by nearly 5,000. With 12,000 replies and counting, Constantino responded to a number of users, appearing to troll dissenters and welcome praise. On Facebook, Sticker Mule didn't post Constantino's comments about Trump and unity but nevertheless received numerous comments on an unrelated post.

Off social media, local Republican Ted Danz Sr., who is running in the 46th state Senate District, said in a statement that Constantino’s post “points out we need to get back to viewing our political opponents as humans whom we are allowed to have respectful disagreements with.”

Danz’s opponent, Assembly member Patricia Fahy, D-Albany, believes unification is important, but thought it was “a bit much” for Constantino to say that he is afraid of openly supporting the 45th president.

“At least it was written in a cordial way, but I think it's over-embellishing this fear stuff,” Fahy said in a phone call. “I know there may be a stigma [with supporting Trump], but part of it is because some of us are so concerned about the misrepresentation of the facts.”

Joseph Mastroianni, a Republican-endorsed state Assembly candidate for the 111th district, which includes Amsterdam, said in an interview that Constantino was “bold” to post the message.

“There are a lot of people that support Trump that don't want to be silent anymore,” he said. “They want to make it known that they support them, but I love that this post emphasizes the idea that we shouldn't be consumed with emotion.”

Mastroianni is no stranger to posting controversial messages online. Notably during his successful run for Rotterdam Town Board in 2021, he was blasted online for sharing false information about 9/11 — a post he self-reportedly intended to question official narratives over COVID-19.

As a family partner at Amsterdam-based Mastroianni Foods, Mastroianni maintained that he’s long been outspoken about his political views, regardless of the potential impact on business. The registered Conservative recognizes that some clients are cautious about publicly espousing their leanings, especially regarding Trump.

“The operative word is service — not food — and we are to serve our customers regardless of what your personal and political beliefs are,” Mastroianni said. “I recognize that that's a difficult thing for a lot of people to do when they have a tremendously successful business.”

Sticker Mule is a custom printer of stickers, T-shirts, shipping supplies and other merchandise based in Amsterdam. The company, which also sells hot sauce, has contributed significantly to community projects, including several amenities at Veterans Park.

The major local employer made headlines for previously providing $1,000 holiday bonuses to staff. It later faced a lawsuit and admitted a payroll error was made regarding overtime pay calculations for its employees for a roughly two year period in 2020.

Salvatore Ferlazzo, in-house counsel for Sticker Mule, at the time said the company was in the process of repaying the owed money. He said shift differential had inadvertently been excluded from overtime calculations.

Sticker Mule and Constantino previously launched Stimulus, the “happy social network where giveaways replace advertising,” in 2022. It was described by Constantino at the time as cultivating a civilized tone as opposed to other platforms “making the world a darker place.”

Reporter Ashley Onyon contributed to this report.

-