Rachael Ray Donut Ad Pulled!

[RDK]

Please tell me that this is a late April Fools gag or a piece from The Onion so my faith in the intelligence of humanity isn't eroded any further than it already is...

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359501,00.html

Dunkin' Donuts Pulls Rachael Ray Ad Over 'Terror' Symbolism

Thursday , May 29, 2008

BOSTON —

Dunkin' Donuts has pulled an online advertisement featuring Rachael Ray after complaints that a fringed black-and-white scarf that the celebrity chef wore in the ad offers symbolic support for Muslim extremism and terrorism.

The coffee and baked goods chain said the ad that began appearing online May 7 was pulled over the past weekend because "the possibility of misperception detracted from its original intention to promote our iced coffee."

In the spot, Ray holds an iced coffee while standing in front of trees with pink blossoms.

Critics, including conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, complained that the scarf wrapped around her looked like a kaffiyeh, the traditional Arab headdress. Critics who fueled online complaints about the ad in blogs say such scarves have come to symbolize Muslim extremism and terrorism.

The kaffiyeh, Malkin wrote in a column posted online last Friday, "has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad. Popularized by Yasser Arafat and a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos, the apparel has been mainstreamed by both ignorant (and not-so-ignorant) fashion designers, celebrities, and left-wing icons."

A statement issued Wednesday by Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Brands Inc., however, said the scarf had a paisley design, and was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot.

"Absolutely no symbolism was intended," the company said.

Dunkin' spokeswoman Michelle King said the ad appeared on the chain's Web site, as well as other commercial sites.

Amahl Bishara, an anthropology lecturer at the University of Chicago who specializes in media matters relating to the Middle East, said complaints about the scarf's use in the ad demonstrate misunderstandings of Arab culture and the multiple meanings that symbols can take on depending on someone's perspective.

"I think that a right-wing blogger making an association between a kaffiyeh and terrorism is just an example of how so much of the complexity of Arab culture has been reduced to a very narrow vision of the Arab world on the part of some people in the U.S.," Bishara said in a phone interview. "Kaffiyehs are worn every day on the street by Palestinians and other people in the Middle East -- by people going to work, going to school, taking care of their families, and just trying to keep warm."

While some extremists and terrorists may wear kaffiyehs, "To reduce their meaning to support for terrorism has a tacit racist tone to it," Bishara said.

Malkin, in a posting following up on last week's column, said of Dunkin's decision to pull the ad, "It's refreshing to see an American company show sensitivity to the concerns of Americans opposed to Islamic jihad and its apologists."

Ray, host of the Food Network television program "30 Minute Meals" as well as a syndicated daytime talk show, began appearing in ads for Dunkin' Donuts in March 2007. When Dunkin' announced the partnership, it said Ray would be featured in TV, print, radio and online spots in a campaign running through 2010.

[JSngry]

It's real.

[catesta]

I'm offended that they refer to her as a "chef".

[.:.impossible]

When I first saw this ad, I thought she had a dirty bomb in her purse. It also looks like she is lip syncing the words to "Barbara Ann". I immediately wrote a letter to Dunkin Donuts.

[JSngry]

When I first saw this ad, I thought she had a dirty bomb in her purse.

Nah, she was just glad to see you.

[DukeCity]

Not mentioned in the article is that the background of the ad is the Oregon state capitol building. The gold figure on top is an axe-wielding pioneer. Clearly meant to incite violence...

[jazzbo]

All this because she was trying to hide a hickey from her husband!

[7/4]

All this because she was trying to hide a hickey from her husband!

.

[Brownian Motion]

I wish that I patronized them so that I could boycott them.

[Free For All]

Is it just me, or does the title of this thread sound oddly filthy?

[7/4]

Is it just me, or does the title of this thread sound oddly filthy?

All that food coloring can't be healthy.

[rachel]

Critics, including conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, complained that the scarf wrapped around her looked like a kaffiyeh, the traditional Arab headdress. Critics who fueled online complaints about the ad in blogs say such scarves have come to symbolize Muslim extremism and terrorism.

Figures her name is attached to this. It's a freakin' paisley scarf.

[robviti]

actually, it's not paisley, but it is a very common pattern. i'm willing to bet that millions of these scarves have been sold in this country over the past few decades.

i owned one over 20 years ago. once while wearing it on a winter night in nyc, i was approached by a middle eastern woman who said something to me in a language i didn't understand. seeing my confusion, she explained that she was expressing her gratitude for my show of support for the people of palestine. unbeknownst to me, i was wearing the same scarf that members of the plo wore.

i'm no longer surprised when things like this dunkin donuts retraction happen now, just deeply saddened by it. this truly is a nation frightened by its own rights and freedoms. score another one for the terrorists.

[Shawn]

Is it me or is this one of the DUMBEST "controversies" ever?

[rachel]

Look closely at the scarf Rachael Ray is wearing; there's a distinct paisley pattern. My point being that it looks nothing like Arafat's except for being black and white with fringe.

A statement issued Wednesday by Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Brands Inc., however, said the scarf had a paisley design, and was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot.

Edited May 30, 2008 by rachel

[Van Basten II]

Even when you think you have reached the point where people can not get any dumber, they find a way to suprise you

[robviti]

Look closely at the scarf Rachael Ray is wearing; there's a distinct paisley pattern.

A statement issued Wednesday by Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Brands Inc., however, said the scarf had a paisley design, and was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot.

i stand corrected. actually, it's late and i'm sitting down, but you get the idea.

and yes, you're all correct about the utter absurdity of the whole issue. it's just proves how little grey matter one needs to breathe, circulate blood, and act like a moron. come to think of it, this is even an insult to morons.

[7/4]

Is it me or is this one of the DUMBEST "controversies" ever?

Is it as dumb, not as dumb or dumber than the Sharon Stone thing?

I say yes.

[Shawn]

Is it me or is this one of the DUMBEST "controversies" ever?

Is it as dumb, not as dumb or dumber than the Sharon Stone thing?

I say yes.

Equivalent levels of mass stupidity on both "issues". Ain't we got enough real shit to deal with on a daily basis?

[Free For All]

Equivalent levels of mass stupidity on both "issues". Ain't we got enough real shit to deal with on a daily basis?

Your Chuck is showing.

[Chuck Nessa]

Equivalent levels of mass stupidity on both "issues". Ain't we got enough real shit to deal with on a daily basis?

Your Chuck is showing.

[jazzbo]

Shouldn't that have been "Shawn's Chuck showing was."

[Kevin Bresnahan]

it's just proves how little grey matter one needs to breathe, circulate blood, and act like a moron. come to think of it, this is even an insult to morons.

Isn't that Michelle Malkin defined?

[robviti]

come to think of it, you may be right.

[Man with the Golden Arm]

proof that Dunkin Donuts has some of the worst kaffiyeh ever brewed.