Note: we are republishing this story, which originally made the news in September 2017.
A Texas woman’s Facebook post about Hobby Lobby sparked heated debate after she criticized the store for selling cotton stalks in glass vases as home décor. Daniell Rider of Killeen shared a photo of the display, writing: “This decor is WRONG… cotton was gained at the expense of African-American slaves. A little sensitivity goes a long way. PLEASE REMOVE THIS.” Her post quickly went viral, drawing over 210,000 comments and nearly 20,000 shares.

Many users pushed back, arguing cotton itself is not offensive. “It’s a plant. Chill,” one wrote. Others pointed out that clothing and household goods are often made of cotton, calling Rider’s outrage hypocritical. Some accused her of seeking attention, with one comment reading: “There are far more important issues… grow up.” Supporters of Rider’s view were fewer, but the debate reflected broader sensitivities around symbols tied to slavery.

The controversy came shortly after another incident in Nashville, where Lipscomb University’s president faced backlash for using cotton stalks as a dinner centerpiece for African-American students. He later apologized, acknowledging he should have shown more sensitivity.