The company that designed the stage used at CPAC this year has stepped forward to reportedly take full responsibility for the debacle that unfolded when internet trolls noticed the stage resembled the othala rune, a symbol featured on Nazi uniforms.
Design Foundry, a stage design company based out of Maryland, told the Forward on Tuesday night that it “had no idea that the design resembled any symbol, nor was there any intention to create something that did.”
Forward reports:
Design Foundry said that the American Conservative Union approved the stage design, which was “intended to provide the best use of space, given the constraints of the ballroom and social distancing requirements.”
According to the terms of the contract signed with Design Foundry, and shared with the Forward, the ACU approved the design but had no rights to change the design or dismantle the stage. “The designs, renderings, drawings, specifications, materials and other documents used or created as part of the proposal are owned by Design Foundry,” the contract reads. Design Foundry has worked with CPAC for several years and has provided services to MSNBC and major corporations – including Google, Citibank and Target.
Ian Walters, director of communications for the ACU and CPAC, said that they have “no interest in promoting antisemitism from our stage, whether it’s what happens on the stage or the design of the stage itself” and that the stage debacle was an “unwelcome distraction.” Walters said ACU and CPAC will no longer work with the company moving forward.
Design Foundry said it was “saddened and horrified at the accusations that this was a deliberate act” and that it “denounces all hate speech and acts of racism, prejudice, or bigotry in all forms.”
Hyatt Hotels, which featured the event, released two statements about the incident, statements that were criticized by CPAC for allegedly validating “demonstrably false and malicious claims.”
“For months we have collaborated with your team on logistics, including sharing, reviewing, and approving the stage design that was created by one of our subcontractors,” CPAC said in a letter to Hyatt Hotels. “The fact that no one on the Hyatt staff ever raised concerns during the process shows the ridiculous nature of your statements. Moreover, your statements falsely conceal your oversight role. In fact, the Hyatt Hotel, with our organization and subcontractors, approved and worked collaboratively to build this stage. Only after a coordinated far-left assault to destroy our conference arose did you succumb to lies and compound them with your own.”
“Our Jewish Board Members, staff, speakers, and attendees are appalled by the Hyatt leadership for not standing with us as we fight against antisemitism (a term that Hyatt fails to use in its statements),” the letter added. “We would have hoped that our 10th annual Shabbat Dinner, daily Jewish prayer services, and speeches on the main stage from Jewish leaders, such as Ambassador David Friedman, Former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, and Rabbi Yitz Tendler would be enough to put an end to these outrageous falsehoods.”