Food truck is booted from market over its innuendo-laden slogan as owner cries ‘censorship’

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An Indiana food truck owner is accusing state officials of “censorship” after his business was kicked out of the statehouse’s weekly market over a suggestive slogan he says has been part of his brand for years.

Smash Daddy’s Burgers, Fries, Etc. Owner Scott Sims shared an email on Facebook that he claims came from a state official. The message stated that officials had “received several complaints regarding the slogan” — the truck’s tagline, “You’ll love our meat in your mouth.” He claims he’s been “directed to cancel” two upcoming market appearances.

But Sims tells the Indiana Capital Chronicle that the slogan has rarely sparked controversy during the decades he’s used it, first at his former restaurant, Between the Bun, and later on his food truck, which launched in late 2023.

“I could count on one hand the complaints I’ve had over the last 20 years,” Sims told the outlet.

Sims, however, did say that two groups recently objected to the slogan: a Christian school and the state government. While he said the school’s concerns were understandable, he called the state’s decision “ridiculous” and accused officials of “censorship.”

open image in gallery Indiana state officials canceled two upcoming Statehouse Market appearances for Smash Daddy’s Burgers, Fries, Etc. after receiving complaints about the food truck’s slogan, 'You’ll love our meat in your mouth' ( Facebook/Smash Daddy's Burgers, Fries Etc. )

“From one of the busiest/most popular trucks there to canceled. It’s a shame the sensitivities of a few ruin it for the majority,” Sims wrote in a July 10 Facebook post. “Not sure why it became a problem all of a sudden when we have been serving there for two years.”

Kirollos Barsoum, communications director of the State Personnel Department, who allegedly sent the email to Sims, told the Capital Chronicle in a statement, “Participation of food trucks and other vendors at the Statehouse Market is by invitation and is at the discretion of the State Personnel Department.”

“We routinely evaluate vendors based on a variety of operational and programmatic considerations, and we reserve the right to modify the vendor rotation or discontinue participation at any time,” Barsoum continued.

The outlet also reports it asked for copies of any complaints received, to which Barsoum allegedly replied, “No responsive written records exist.”

The dispute has now escalated to concerns about whether the government’s decision to remove the food truck from a public event could have First Amendment implications.

Indiana University law professor Zachary Cormier tells the Capital Chronicle that the government cannot restrict speech simply because it finds it offensive. The slogan would likely need to meet the high legal standard for obscenity before officials could regulate it, he added.

“And usually these types of business slogans that are meant to be provocative, you know, maybe even have some type of sexual connotation or double entendre, don’t normally rise to that level,” he said.

“If it’s just the slogan, I think there would be a real concern about this not rising to the level of formal obscenity,” Cormier added.

The Independent has contacted Barsoum for comment.

Sims also told the Capital Chronicle that he was not given a chance to appeal the decision or find a solution because the email called the cancellation “final.” He says he expects to lose $4,000 to $5,000 in revenue from the missed events.

“We stay constantly busy — do a huge amount of sales when we’re there,” Sims told the outlet.

“I mean, we make burgers and hot dogs, so you’ll love our meat in your mouth,” Sims said of his controversial slogan. “But I’m sure, and as they did, some people took it the wrong way.”