KFC Removes ‘Misunderstood’ Ad Accused Of Poking Fun At Israel-Hamas War
Photo 28819989 © Xi Zhang | Dreamstime.com
KFC recently found itself in hot oil after posting an advertisement that thoroughly confused social media users.
The graphic, which featured the hashtag #NoTentsJustChicken, became the eye of a storm when it was misinterpreted by some as making light of the serious situation faced by Palestinians displaced by the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, as AFP fact-checkers have determined, the campaign was actually a nod to a local incident in Antigua and Barbuda, where the disappearance of a tent belonging to the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) had become a talking point.
The misunderstanding seemed to stem from the advertisement’s unfortunate timing and the global tensions surrounding the conflict in Gaza. It then took on a life of its own when influencers like Britain-based creator Sulaiman Ahmed and Danish physician Anastasia Maria Loupis, who previously monetized misinformation surrounding the Gaza Strip, amplified the narrative across social platforms including Instagram, Facebook, and X (formerly Twitter).
Way to go @kfc 🤣🤣🤣…… Epic! #NoTentsJustChicken pic.twitter.com/HA8bZdwEfB
— 💕DesiDiva💕 (@desi_diva1) February 19, 2024
Their posts accused KFC of mocking the plight of displaced Palestinians, a claim that quickly spread.
“DISGUSTING AD MOCKING GAZA By KFC,” one person on Instagram commented. “KFC is literally mocking displaced Palestinians in Rafah whilst they are suffering FAMINE!” Instagram has since flagged the image as “false information” after verification from independent checkers.
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KFC acted swiftly to douse the flames of the widespread misjudgment by deleting the contentious post and issuing an apology to clear the air.
A spokesperson for the fast-food giant told AFP that the controversial image was shared on the channels of its Antiguan arm “with the intention of joining the trending conversation… related to a tent that was reported missing by the Antigua Public Utilities Authority.” They further emphasized that the campaign had no connection to the Middle East conflict and apologized for any confusion or upset it may have caused.
Posted by APUA on Thursday, February 15, 2024
[via AFP Fact Check, images via various sources]
