Dunkin Donuts axes terror symbol ad
May 30, 2008
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DUNKIN’ Donuts has axed an online advertisement featuring celebrity chef Rachael Ray over a fringed black-and-white scarf that critics said offered symbolic support for Muslim extremism and terrorism.
In the ad, Ray wears the scarf around her neck and holds an iced coffee.
US critics, including conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, complained that the scarf looked similar to the black-and-white checkered kaffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf, the Associated Press reported.
The kaffiyeh “has come to symbolise murderous Palestinian jihad. Popularised 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,” Ms Malkin said.
Dunkin’ Donuts 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.
But the Dunkin’ Donuts ad was pulled because “the possibility of misperception detracted from its original intention to promote our iced coffee,” the Associated Press reported.
Ms Malkin later said it was “refreshing to see an American company show sensitivity to the concerns of Americans opposed to Islamic jihad and its apologists”.
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