How about some pictures?

Pictures would help

A cute little "accent piece" that is full of lots of colors, doesn't need to "match" the kitchen decor. Placement and scale is more important than color, in this case, IMHO.

sounds like you really don't love the way it looks, but you don't want to offend your friends and do want to keep up the joke. is there a cabinet or pantry it can hang out of sight, but you can see it when the door is opened? that way you'll still get a flash of it that you and your friends can all laugh about, but it's not really part of the decor.

it could even be a surprise. like, your friends think you got rid of it, and then you sneakily ask them to fetch a bottle of wine. bam, it's right there! you could even make a game and have it in a different spot every time they come over. (then you can put it away when they're gone.)

Sorry, thought I added a pic to my original post. See above.

@User Love the idea of a hidden surprise, lol! I also thought about maybe taking off the tomato since the other colors kinda work. If I do leave it out in the kitchen, any ideas about what to pair with it so it looks a bit fresher?

I would be like the OP, and dismayed at what to do with this tchotchke. I like @Debbi Washburn's idea of placing it inside a bowl. Which you can put away easily when the friends are not there.

Put them in a centerpiece bowl whenever they come over. Then stash it away after they leave. Easy.

Be thankful it's not a bottle of Thunderbird. I knew a bunch of people who gifted the same bottle of Thunderbird to others in their circle at holidays. It went around amongst them for years. I was so glad I was on the periphery and never received it!

Love the bowl idea! Thanks all!

That reminds me of the Mexican chili ristras. And yes they make them in ceramic, not just dried chilis. I'm the odd person out....I'd just hang it from the island in the kitchen. Every kitchen needs a little whimsy.

The bowl or Tara’s idea.