Skateboarding legend Ed Templeton and his brand Toy Machine recently dropped a new pro model graphic that sparked a lot of conversation.
The design features imagery of the Ku Klux Klan set on fire on a cross with a nazi symbol below, and to really drive it home, Toy Machine even burned one of Templeton’s own signature decks in promotion of the release.
The campaign was meant to be a statement, but not everyone in the skateboard world saw it as original.
Gatekeeper Weckingball was quick to sound off. He went straight to the point, claiming Toy Machine was biting his sh*t.
“Do I have to block every skate brand Stop copying me” Weckingball said, making it clear he wasn’t feeling the campaign.
He doubled down in classic Weckingball fashion, throwing in a jab at artist Todd Francis who was tied to the project.
“The worst part of that Toy ad ripping me off is that Todd Francis doesn’t even skate. We got posers lurking me for ad concepts. At least do a skate trick if you’re going to steal from me. Just blocked that foo. You’re blocked Todd.”
To Weckingball it’s all about being original, and when a company like Toy Machine drops something that even feels close to what he’s already done, he’s gonna speak up.
