Photo by Dave Kleinschmidt

The Fojol Bros. of Merlindia may be considered one the best food trucks in the country, but the local purveyors of curries and butter chicken have recently been called something less palatable—racists.

A petition started a few weeks ago asked the Fojol Bros.—who dress up in carnival-like outfits, go by stage names like “Dingo” and “Ababa Du” and hail from “the magical lands” of “Merlindia” and “Benethiopia”—to knock off what some called a blatantly racist schtick:

Justin Vitarello doesn’t want to listen when we say his business’s gimmick is hurtful and offensive. He denies that white people wearing turbans and fake mustaches and playing Punjabi music while selling Indian food is stereotype and mockery, and justifies it by saying “no more than five” people have complained that it’s racist…Sign this petition to let Vitarello and the rest of the Fojol Bros. business know that a lot more than five of us are not OK with their Orientalist and racist appropriation of South Asian and East African cultures.

Over 1,100 people have signed the petition; some have accused the Fojol Bros. of engaging in “hipster racism.” Others, of course, have stepped up to defend the Fojol Bros.

As the Post recently reported, the controversy has divided many food truck lovers in D.C.—on the one hand are the folks that seem to agree that the whole act wouldn’t be nearly as funny if it were, say, blackface; on the other are people who argue that maybe everyone is talking the whole political correctness thing just a little too far.

Yesterday the Fojol Bros. responded, posting something of an apology on their Facebook page:

The fojol bros. apologize to those who have been offended. That was not, is not, and will never be our intent. Fojol is a celebration of food and community, infused with creativity and entertainment. Fojol’s owners were born and raised in Washington, DC, but our workforce includes women and men from around the world. Our mission is to embody a traveling culinary carnival. Our clothing and design have two distinct influences: the countries that inspire our food and the carnival’s whimsical nature. Our mustaches are a symbol across all three trucks, paying tribute to circus showmen of the past. Fojol’s aesthetic is in no way meant to be a caricature of any cultural or ethnic group. Fojol’s goal remains the same – to bring healthy, affordable food to the streets, in a colorful atmosphere that lifts people’s spirits and encourages community.

Translation? They’re sorry, but their act won’t be changing any time soon.