Yesterday, we revealed how a Canadian oil and energy company was under fire after their logo was used on a sexually violent graphic appearing to show teenage activist Greta Thunberg.
The logo of X-Site Energy Services was used on a sticker that also featured a drawing of a nude female with two hands pulling from behind on her braided hair (a style commonly worn by the Swedish activist). The name 'Greta' is written across her lower back. (VT has chosen not to publish the image.)
Though X-Site Energy Services denied any involvement in the creation of the image, the company has since received a backlash online - not only because their logo was featured, but also the conflicting accounts surrounding its origin.
As per a report in the Huffington Post, the cartoon appears to have originated as a hard hat sticker on a job site. It was then reportedly shared with others associated within the oil and gas firm, before being posted on Facebook by a friend of an employee.
Related - Trump's former aide slammed over 'gross' joke about Greta Thunberg's body:Rocky Mountain House Councillor Michelle Narang said she was sent a photo of the sticker by a friend who works for the oil industry. The friend, who spoke to HuffPost on the condition of anonymity over fear of losing their job, told the news outlet that the sticker that been distributed on a job site as a "promotional material" to be worn on their hats.
Narang called out the offensive image in a Facebook post, and was unequivocal in her contempt for the perpetrators, commenting:
"I’m absolutely sickened that X-site Energy Services would think that the hard working men and women in the energy industry would condone this representation of a child.
“I don’t care how much you disagree with the laments of a child — in Canada we don’t rape women and girls to teach them a lesson."
Narang, who is a self-professed advocate for the Canadian energy industry, also said: "This company represents everything that the [oil and gas] industry needs to fight against". She added: "This is an industry Alberta is fighting for so desperately. This sticker is not something Alberta or Albertans need.”
In addition to calling attention to the graphic on social media, Narang also alleges that she spoke directly to X-Site Energy Services general manager Doug Sparrow.
Narang alleges that Sparrow told her he was aware of the stickers, and he remarked that Thunberg was not a child as she is 17.
Speaking to Global News, Narang said: "[Sparrow's] response when I asked him if he was aware that there are stickers circulating with his logo depicting the rape of Greta Thunberg. He said yes, that he is aware.
"And I said, 'So you are fine with an image that your company condones the rape of children?' And he said, 'She is not a child, she is 17.'"
However, Sparrow has told Canadian media that his company was not responsible for the image, telling City News: "It's not from X-Site or any employee, someone has done this. That's all I know."
Now, the artist who created the original design the sticker was based on has spoken out about his art being used in such an offensive and vile manner.
Taking to Instagram, German artist Gabriel Canalla - who designed the image of a naked woman shown having her braided hair pulled — revealed that his design had been plagiarized and used in a way in which it was never intended.
In a series of Instagram Stories, Canalla revealed that the drawing - sans the word "Greta" or the X-Site company logo - was created in 2016 as a tattoo design. He typed:
"They stole my design! I never make my drawing with that purpose.
"That sticker X-Site made was originally a tattoo design made by me. Of course it was never meant to be used for that purpose. X-site not only stole my tattoo design and made it a logo/sticker, but also used it for that disgusting purpose … It sucks."
Velocity Graphics, a company that said it previously designed decals for the company, has also denied that it had any involvement in the creation of the cartoon in a post on its Facebook page.
"To clarify speculation we did NOT print or have any involvement in the Greta decals. In order to protect our reputation we ask that people carefully choose what they say. Thanks for your support," the company said in a written statement.
For her part, Thunberg has declared that the cartoon is a sign of desperation and shows that "we are winning" in the fight against the burgeoning climate crisis.
In Alberta, Canada, the age of majority - when a person is considered an adult - is 18, according to Canada's Department of Justice.