Jailed rapper A$AP Rocky's fans are now voicing their ire using the Twitter hashtag #BoycottSweden, after prosecutors chose to press charges against their idol for assault.
With US Donald President having voiced his criticism over Sweden's handling of A$AP Rocky's case, Americans rushed to Twitter to call for a boycott of the Scandinavian country and its leading brands, sporting hashtags such as #BoycottIkea and #JustSayNoToPickledHerring.
Many seemed to draw inspiration from Trump's tweet that declared: “We do so much for Sweden but it doesn't seem to work the other way around”. Potential targets include IKEA, Absolut Vodka, Volvo, and Spotify.
“I always wanted to visit Sweden, especially in the winter. The way that this country is treating our young black men. I will never visit Sweden", a person wrote, adding the hashtag #BoycottSweden.
#BoycottSweden: I always wanted to visit Sweden, especially in the winter. The way that this country is treating our young black men. I will never visit Sweden.
— denisehall (@puredluv692003) 25 июля 2019 г.
Boycott Sweden, Boycott all Swedish Companies/Products, Boycott Tourism #BoycottSweden pic.twitter.com/3rfVAtVI6s
— Chrxmeface (@chrxmeface) 25 июля 2019 г.
There's gotta be a way to #boycottSweden https://t.co/KI6Xq06Ix4
— hoodedninja (@hoodedninjah) 25 июля 2019 г.
🇺🇸 we’re appalled at the justice system in Sweden! How can you charge a man for defending himself! Racists! That’s how! #BombSweden 💥 #FuckSwedishMeatballs #BoycottIkea
— Matt Miller (@amillimn) 25 июля 2019 г.
NO MORE IKEA UNTIL A$AP IS FREE #FreeRocky #BoycottIkea
— At Jake Underscore K T (@Jake_KT) 26 июля 2019 г.
A Swedish man? Lol. I think you mean illegal migrant🙄😤. This dude could barely speak Swedish or English. Sweden is a racist system who would throw anyone of any color under a bus for the migrants coming in in droves all for “tolerance”. #FREEASAPROCKY #freeASAP #BoycottSweden pic.twitter.com/aQVgkPxmAA
— Mr. Sarcastic (@mrsarcasticass1) 22 июля 2019 г.
Sweden also appeared under hashtag #S**tholeCountry.
Don't go to #ShitholeCountry Sweden. It's the rape capital of the west & they have a fetish for criminals while jailing innocent ppl.#freeASAP #FreeASAProcky, you rape loving dogs.#BoycottSweden
— 🌈♀️朝倉有希子🌝🌚 (@AsakuraYukiko) 25 июля 2019 г.
I'm ashamed of being a Swede for alot of reasons, too many to mention here. #FuckSweden #ShitholeCountry #BoycottSweden
— Susanne (@CrushinCandies) 27 июля 2019 г.
Still, Sweden is unlikely to face any significant economic repercussions, as none of those urging to boycott had a substantial following or were major public figures.
Other users, less prone to strong reactions, posted a list of things that originated in Sweden, and had to be ignored as well for the boycott to be complete.
seeing as there's now this #boycottSweden thing going on i'll list some things you NEED to stop using!
— Slifty💞 (@SliftyThe2nd) 29 июля 2019 г.
-seatbelts
-refridgerators
-spotify
-bluetooth
-coca cola bottles
-the zipper
-phone headsets
-flatscreens
-the wrench
-H&M
-anything using ball bearings
-matches
-absolut vodka
Some suggested that most of those calling for a boycott couldn't locate Sweden on a map and were likely to confuse it with Switzerland.
When #boycottSweden is trending but 90% of the people call it Switzerland and can't point it out on the map pic.twitter.com/qYafFLT0My
— P (@_palex84_) 27 июля 2019 г.
Others were even more sceptical, and speculated that #BoycottSweden was trending simply because you cannot buy yourself out of prison in Sweden.
i love how america is trending #boycottSweden just because yall can't buy a criminal out of jail here
— ً (@iIIetan) 27 июля 2019 г.
Boycotting Swedish products because a US rapper is charged for a crime? It is just as stupid as offering money to make him go free. It just does not work that way in some countries. Wait until you have the full evidence and know the verdict before you judge. #boycottSweden
— Krister Håkansson (@mackrister) 26 июля 2019 г.
Meanwhile, one fourth of Americans surveyed by The Daily Caller support a military intervention to release the rapper from jail in Sweden. According to the newspaper, such an operation would most likely occur from an aircraft carrier in the Baltic Sea. From there, a team of commandos could be flown to Stockholm using Black Hawk helicopters equipped with stealth technology.
A$AP Rocky is charged with assault for an incident which happened in Stockholm on June 30, where he and his entourage ended up in a brawl with people of non-Swedish descent. Both sides' stories of the event completely contradict each other.
A$AP Rocky, real name Rakim Mayers, argued that he and his comrades were stalked by immigrants and eventually provoked to engage in a street brawl. The plaintiff, by contrast, argued that it was he who was attacked. Rocky is facing two years in prison and fines.
On Thursday, US President Donald Trump voiced his disappointment with Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Löfven. According to Trump, the films from the incident show that A$AP Rocky clearly was the victim.
Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for being unable to act. Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States. I watched the tapes of A$AP Rocky, and he was being followed and harassed by troublemakers. Treat Americans fairly! #FreeRocky
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 25 июля 2019 г.
