2020 has been an incredibly strange time, but very few expected June would bring Eric Trump and Ted Cruz's vocal defenses of the children's program Paw Patrol.
Protests around the globe have erupted in response to systemic racial bias by law enforcement and police brutality.
While mainstream focus on racist police behavior is at an all-time high, several programs including the long-running reality show COPS have been removed from television.
In the midst of these cancellations, PAW Patrol, an animated children's program featuring a puppy police officer, offered their support for the protestors on Twitter.
In solidarity of #amplifymelanatedvoices we will be muting our content until June 7th to give access for Black voices to be heard so we can continue to listen and further our learning. #amplifyblackvoices pic.twitter.com/NO2KeQjpHM
— PAW Patrol (@pawpatrol) June 2, 2020
This lead Twitter, ever prepared for the next irreverent joke, to begin calling for the cancellation of PAW Patrol, often in pretty extreme terms.
i hope the cop dog falls into a toaster
— Gregory Possum-Liker 🐀 (@cat_beltane) June 3, 2020
pic.twitter.com/q0UBbav49g
— Joaquin Magma 🧢 🌺 (@magma_joaquin) June 3, 2020
DEFUND CHASE
— john (@Boooooory) June 5, 2020
The memes calling for Chase's removal from television were innumerable.
get rid of the cop or delete ur account
— doccter HELL FROG says BLACK LIVES MATTER (@babykingtobey) June 2, 2020
pic.twitter.com/UHd9iVcz0L
— 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐉. 𝐕𝐚𝐧 𝐃𝐲𝐤𝐞 (@visibleotters) June 2, 2020
Of course, if there's a joke you can count on Eric Trump not to get it.
He responded to the viral meme by claiming liberals everywhere wanted to bring down PAW Patrol.
Now the left wants to cancel “Paw Patrol." These people are truly insane...
“The Protests Come for 'Paw Patrol'" - The New York Times https://t.co/8QbV9coBhN
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) June 11, 2020
Republican Senator Ted Cruz also proved equally clueless and stoked ire amongst his conservative base who probably also didn't get the joke.
The absurdity knows no end. #CancelCultureTargetsCartoons https://t.co/bfHBBvg5sD
— Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) June 11, 2020
Sure enough, before long many were online trying to defend PAW Patrol from the imaginary mobs demanding its cancellation.
I stand with #PawPatrol pic.twitter.com/Yi4YwLNSFi
— Tina_Vera (@tinavera_tv) June 11, 2020
Never thought I'd be fighting for Paw Patrol... pic.twitter.com/X6LEVMAITv
— Cop With Attitude (@CopWithAttitude) June 12, 2020
Chase is not going away he's a really good police pup and the Pawpatrol is not going to be Cancelled at all. We stand with the Pawpatrol. #pawpatrolchase #PawPatrol pic.twitter.com/SgjyS7sQd0
— Stephen Foster (@Stephen13982802) June 12, 2020
The truth is that no action against PAW Patrol has been announced.
#PawPatrol is not being cancelled despite the fake "protests" against it. https://t.co/lM97r5LFtW pic.twitter.com/UZtSlxDyGy
— Decider (@decider) June 11, 2020
On Twitter, many couldn't stop laughing at the section of the internet who took their meme seriously.
You can have the paw patrol dog but leave bonkers alone 😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/IWpsXy6MyM
— air mag (@mrreminiscent) June 11, 2020
This was a twitter joke. Why is this making news?
— Kris H (@polisciguykris) June 11, 2020
Meanwhile, there are many other more important problems that need addressing.
How about y'all work on cancelling Qualified Immunity and No Knock raids instead of #PawPatrol mmkay.
— Brian Michael Smith (@TheBrianMichael) June 12, 2020
If you, like Eric Trump and Ted Cruz, are a massive fan of PAW Patrol, don't worry! It doesn't look like Chase is going anywhere any time soon.
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter