You know what people do when they make a comment or gesture that is widely seen as something horrible, even if it’s a misinterpretation?

They apologize.

And you know when someone deserves the benefit of charitable interpretation?

When they don’t spend their vast influence and wealth to very publicly and globally promote the abhorrent ideology symbolized by that “misinterpreted” gesture.

HN is nothing if not contrarian, which can lead to interesting discussions, but ehhh… this is not the thing to be contrarian about, especially given all the overwhelming evidence out there.