A MyPillow advertisement posted on the company’s official X (formerly Twitter) account has sparked controversy for featuring a price tied to neo-Nazi symbolism. The ad, promoting MyPillow products at a price of $14.88, caught the attention of Willamette University history professor Seth Cotlar, who flagged it on the social media platform Bluesky.
As explained by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the number “1488” carries significant meaning among neo-Nazis. The “14” references the white supremacist slogan: “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white children.” The “88” stands for “Heil Hitler,” with “H” being the eighth letter of the alphabet.
“This ad is a disturbing wink at Nazis, wrapped in the seemingly innocuous, plausibly deniable form of an advertisement,” Cotlar wrote on Bluesky. He added, “I doubt Lindell is behind this or would even get the reference, but that doesn’t really matter.”
Cotlar suggested that the price might have been set by someone with fascist sympathies, remarking, “It is undeniable that there are fascists, and even straight-up Nazis, working inside the Republican Party. One of them is likely responsible for that winking Lindell ad.” However, he also noted that public figures like Mike Lindell, the CEO of MyPillow, wouldn’t likely embrace such symbols openly.
The ad has drawn praise from some extreme corners of X, with users making overt Nazi references in response. One user named “Ohio Groyper,” a supporter of white supremacist influencer Nick Fuentes, tweeted, “We will be buying.” Another user commented, “1488 right on!” Others chimed in with references like “the price is Reich” and “We must secure the existence of our people and a future for white pillows.”
It remains unclear whether Lindell is aware of the symbolism behind the price. In a promotional video, Lindell announced the discount as $14.98, while the website listed the price as $14.88 with a promo code. In the video, Lindell explained the discount was due to a large canceled order from a major retailer while lamenting that his company has been “canceled” by ongoing attacks.
The ad has since been widely criticized for its use of neo-Nazi imagery. Logan Davis, founder of the Colorado Political Workers Guild, called the ad “shocking even for Lindell.” Progressive podcaster Jordan Uhl also weighed in, sarcastically commenting “Mein Pillow” in a quote-tweet. Despite the backlash, the ad remains live on the MyPillow X account as of Saturday afternoon.