An advertisement for Kentucky Fried Chicken Drumstick caused chaos on social media for being “racist” until people realized it was made by brown people of Trinidad and not White people of the United States, and then there was chaos about who should be offended and why, in the end the ad was pulled and everyone was confused.
Y'all bullied KFC into removing that horrible Emancipation Day ad. 😭
— Rae (@curlyraeofsun) August 1, 2020
People were having fun with the ad until the grievance culture started to make demands, and the company then retracted the ad and apologized.
https://twitter.com/curlyraeofsun/status/1290080614629089280?s=20
“KFC has apologised for ads posted on social media on Emancipation Day which drew negative responses from followers.
In a brief statement posted to its Facebook page later in the day, the fast food restaurant acknowledged that it may have gotten it wrong and apologised for any offence caused. The posts have since been removed,” Lott.com reported.
KFC’s statement read:
At KFC Trinidad, we always strive to recognise our nation’s multicultural history and make up, and to play our part in recongising it.
Our intention was to support and recognise the importance of this historically significant event. We recognise that our posts commemorating Emancipation Day drew some negative responses.
Clearly, we got it wrong and we want to unreservedly apologise for the offence caused.
As a result, we are reviewing the approval process of all of our communications to avoid situations like this reoccurring.
Here is the ad:
KFC being tone deaf on emancipation day.. we're tired pic.twitter.com/pFxB5NbwKR
— HANO🌼 (@HANOHXNO) August 1, 2020
Responses on Twitter ranged in response:
“In case y’all didn’t realize, the website says kfc.tt (the .tt means Trinidad and Tobago). This would of been made by Caribbean people and is right up their alley for a sense of humor in Trinidad. Now if this ad been made in USA or Europe, then yes it’d be racist,” said one poster on Twitter.
Others agreed that it was funny, and good humor was displayed by others who normally would have been marching on DC demanding all sorts of things:
this is so racist i have to laugh. pic.twitter.com/BuuoojiQW4
— 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐚𝐜𝐞. (@highendtheori) August 2, 2020
The whole thing is so complex.
this ain’t a post about black people, it’s about trinidian emancipation day, a country where the fried chicken stereotype doesn’t exist bc that’s only american, stop talking sht
— 𝓂igueluchis (@baskullz) August 3, 2020
Woke Social Justice Warriors responded with demands:
KFC Trinidad deleted this ad to acknowledge Trinidad and Togabo's August 1 Emancipation Day from its social media after some well-deserved backlash. Another reason to diversify your marketing teams/organizations. It's ok to laugh to express your shock and anger. #KFC pic.twitter.com/6uw9t325OE
— deicommwhisperer (Tamara N. Stevenson, Ed.D.) (@deicommwhisper1) August 2, 2020
There was anger directed at Caucasians.
KFC acknowledging Trinidad with an image that furthers shameful, offensive stereotypes about Black People on their Emancipation Day is a slap in the face. These Caucasian Corporations are so tone deaf when it comes to dealing with Black People as a whole. pic.twitter.com/RipBEG0AAt
— The Brain Tupac Sparked 💰 (@LordSophia666) August 3, 2020
Confusion.
Is the Fried Chicken/Black connection a thing outside of the US? That appears to be an ad from Trinidad and Tobago, and Emancipation Day is August 1st.
— Nome (@NomeDaBarbarian) August 2, 2020
Perhaps no one should say a thing- ever, about anything.
And I can’t make it any simpler for you, you do not get to decide what black people deem racist or are offended by. You simply don’t
— sean🦦 (@notseanv3) August 3, 2020
Many people do not understand why Chicken is racist, but White Supremacists are brought up.
https://twitter.com/BecketAdams/status/1290300018239234048?s=20
White women from Canada chimed in to virtue signal.
Well, it’s not as bad as it could have been. The bar for sports and corporations understanding social justice movements is low. Already today we’re contending with a KFC ad that appropriates Trinidad emancipation.
— Kim Kim (@AnxietyFriesKim) August 3, 2020
Remember, it’s racist to say Black people like Kentucky Fried Chicken.
KFC in the west indies are made by the hands of God himself but I'm sure this isn't how many would like to celebrate 🇹🇹 Emancipation day… https://t.co/YTUa8gWjhZ
— sofii ♐🇹🇹🇺🇲 (@Crys_LiiT3) August 3, 2020
Whew.. just everyone chill. Because Lord only knows what is going to happen NOW, Round 2? :
The moment you’ve been waiting for: Kentucky Fried Chicken x Crocs Classic Clogs are available now. Complete with chicken-scented Jibbitz! Quantities limited, 1 pair per person, not for human consumption.https://t.co/yI9I36nf3N pic.twitter.com/2DOHYgOxBc
— Crocs (@Crocs) July 28, 2020
This story is developing.
