Restaurant's "Black Olives Matters" shirts stir both rage and raves

An Albuquerque Italian restaurant has set the Internet on fire with its line of "Black Olives Matters" shirts and hats, with critics castigating what they feel is a flippant play on the "Black Lives Matters" movement and fans urging the business not to back down. It appears that the restaurant, Paisano's, is embracing the social media storm.

Paisano's, an Italian restaurant in Albuquerque, New Mex., has earned raves and rage with its "Black Olives Matter" merchandise.

The restaurant says its slogan originated to promote a dish on the menu and later inspired the branded T-shirts and hats. The hat posted above is $25, the restaurant says on its Facebook page.

Many Twitter commentators were swift to condemn the marketing ploy:

But the restaurant is receiving lots of support, too:

And as always, Twitter's got jokes: