Cult Waterloo pancake place Hale & Hearty is under fire after making a series of bizarre pro-Trump posts on social media.
Mark Da Costa, the owner of the plant-based cafe in Waterloo, Sydney, took to social media to declare his stance as staunchly pro-Trump, and that Hale & Hearty is a “safe space for Trump supporters”.
“TODAY WE ANNOUNCE that we are a @realdonaldtrump safe zone. A place to discuss what’s in your heart without prejudice,” Da Costa wrote in a Facebook post on Thursday. “Hold tight people freedom of speech will be back. To all our past American friends and guests stay strong.”
The pro-Trump rhetoric ramped up following accusations of homophobia and bigotry from past customers. Da Costa took to Facebook to respond directly to criticism the joint has faced from the LGBTQIA+ community.
“How quickly the gay community forgot that we put our reputation on the line back in 2017 when the gay community were in the fight of their lives for equality…” Da Costa wrote.
“Now for only being vocal about being Trumpions we are labeled BIGOTS, HOMOPHOBIC & RACIST. Bitch please we been one of your greatest friends since 2015. STOP THE ABUSE PLEASE.”
Da Costa claims that the “left wing fake vegan community” are trying to destroy his family business. He told the Wentworth Courier that a university student shared screenshots of political posts made from Da Costa’s private social media accounts to vegan communities across Sydney, calling for a boycott of the restaurant.
“He posted to some of the most popular vegan sites and told all the vegans in Sydney to boycott Hale and Hearty and avoid us like the plague because we are racists, bigots, transphobes,” he said.
“To go and destroy a family business is and was a terrifying experience. We faced the destruction of my business via left wing vegan trolls so I thought, ‘How do I defend myself?'”
Following his numerous political tirades, Da Costa shared a video apologising for resorting to homophobic slurs, whilst doubling down on his political position.
“I allowed the anger to brew and gave it to you [the LGBT+ community] …. I used words like ‘p*of’, I used language that was completely below me and I am deeply sorry that you had to endure some nasty comments, you did not deserve that.
“I will remain a Trump supporter, you cannot change that, and I will remain a Pauline Hanson supporter”.
