Dunkin Donuts Pulls Rachael Ray Ad Due to Arab-Looking Scarf
Dunkin Donuts has pulled a Rachael Ray ad where she appears to be wearing a keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men and, more recently, a fashion accessory, due to opposition from those who see the scarf as a symbol and representation of support for Palestinian terrorism. Now the world is safe from a black and white paisley scarf-donning Rachael Ray. [via So Good]
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34 Comments:
Wow, what a great victory over Dunkin by "Americans opposed to Islamic jihad and its apologists." This inane episode would be most comical if those right-wing bellowers were not constantly appeased by companies afraid of any controversy, no matter how contrived and ridiculous.
epices6 at 1:49PM on 05/28/08
Actually it was pulled to prevent Arabs from being insulted that Yummo was aping their fashions...
bobbob at 2:00PM on 05/28/08
Oh for heavens sake....
(sorry, I guess THAT might offend someone...let me retract; how about "Oh for goodness sake!". Surely noone will be offended by "goodness", right?! Or maybe I am just naive...)
Cary at 2:02PM on 05/28/08
or maybe they pulled it because it clashes horribly with her shirt and the background? But still absurd...it's not even a Palestinian specific scarf...it's worn all over the Arab world.
herbert at 2:09PM on 05/28/08
What idiocy.
I am sick and tired of these companies cow-towing to these "nattering nabobs of negativity". Their hateful squalling and whining makes all Americans look bad. And, the company's capitulation only encourages more of the same "next time".
There is no place for such hatered in this society. I wish their "followers" or their "base" would tell them to just shut up, but I guess that would be too much to hope for....
Brownie at 2:22PM on 05/28/08
Regardless of your political leanings, what can you expect in a country where 11% of the citizens think Barack Obama is a Muslim?
It's time for the schools to stop "teaching to the test" and start teaching how to think. It's time for churches to start teaching that it's wrong to believe "God is on our side" while we're full of hate.
Now back of yummy food -- so much better than politics!
Blue Iris at 2:33PM on 05/28/08
most ridiculous thing i've heard. it's a friggin dunkin donuts commercial people. like they'd use that forum to announce they were supporters.
sueshe76 at 2:57PM on 05/28/08
I don't know what's scarier - the fact that the commercial was pulled because of such a ridiculous outcry, or the sheer number of people commenting on that article who clearly BELIEVE this idiocy.
I really worry about the future of mankind.
erichan726 at 3:06PM on 05/28/08
Good grief! What's next?
SayWhat at 3:15PM on 05/28/08
"a fashion accessory, due to opposition from ***right-wingers***"
That's the dumbest comment I've ever read on this site. Extremely stupid. Way to be objective.
suburbangourmet at 3:33PM on 05/28/08
Unbelievable.
MegB at 3:37PM on 05/28/08
"a fashion accessory, due to opposition from ***right-wingers***"
That's the dumbest comment I've ever read on this site. Extremely stupid. Way to be objective.
How is her comment not objective? I think Malkin and LGF would happily acknowledge that they're on the right.
rps at 3:48PM on 05/28/08
@suburbangourmet: Sorry if it was offensive; that wasn't my intention. The articles I read about the controversy labeled the people who brought upon the banning of the commercial as from the right wing. I think it's a pretty valid description of the people I linked to, but I've changed it if that helps make things more objective for you.
roboppy at 3:51PM on 05/28/08
Malkin's quote: ‘‘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.’’
@roboppy there was no reason to edit your post.
bobbob at 4:35PM on 05/28/08
Par for the course in the era of FREEDOM FRIES and censored Starbucks mermaid ta-tas.
Adam Kuban at 5:09PM on 05/28/08
@roboppy there was no reason to edit your post.
Ditto. Of course, the irony is that, by editing your post in response to suburbangourmet's silly comment, you've managed to imitate Dunkin Donuts.
rps at 5:15PM on 05/28/08
My intention wasn't to stir the embers of silent politicos here, whose dopey comments are coming to light. My point was that it wasn't necessary to your article as there are nut cases on both sides of the fence. Right or wrong, the article didn't need that characterization of all right wingers or conservatives in general. Had you used the term "lefties" or "liberals" I would have felt the same way.
suburbangourmet at 5:31PM on 05/28/08
I think a Starbucks mermaid wearing a keffiyeh solves everyone's problems!
Adam Kuban at 5:32PM on 05/28/08
@bobbob and rps: I don't think I absolutely had to edit my post, but if it prevents any more people from calling my writing or Serious Eats extremely stupid, it's not a change that's hard for me to live with. The post still pretty much gives the same information.
roboppy at 6:11PM on 05/28/08
It's a paisley silk scarf. I wasn't thinking islamists. I'd have pulled the ad cause she looks goofy.
furrbrain at 6:51PM on 05/28/08
Re: Bobbob's comment: "Actually it was pulled to prevent Arabs from being insulted that Yummo was aping their fashions..."
HAHAHAHAHA What a perfect response.
ReneeRobinson at 7:11PM on 05/28/08
This whole issue is ridiculous on so many levels.
a) It's definitely not a keffiyah. You can clearly see that it is paisley.
b) Even if it were a keffiyah, it would be far more likely to just be misappropriated as a fashion accessory than a political statement.
c) The keffiyah is worn all over the Arab world
d) When used as a political statement, its a symbol of Palestinian liberation, not a support for terrorism.
Holly on Feministe had a good post on this topic.
NinaC at 10:19PM on 05/28/08
suburban, you have no point. "Rightwingers" was a perfectly accurate characterization of the people whose panties are in a bunch over this completely idiotic non-event.
simon at 10:36PM on 05/28/08
I'm not sure which strikes me as more banal: the idea of "keffiyah chic" as sold by Urban Outfitters, or the folks who got their panties in a twist over a paisley scarf.
Just another one of those "humanity is doomed" moments, I guess.
jenilowrance at 2:46AM on 05/29/08
That's a scarf of some sort?
I thought it was a special sort of donut napkin.
foodvox at 6:17AM on 05/29/08
Michelle Malkin with the same scarf. Much as I have no love for Rachel Ray, Malkin has no place to criticize her. Glasshouses and all that.
Amandarama at 7:32AM on 05/29/08
WTF?
sarahbeam at 8:27AM on 05/29/08
It seems that people are forgetting the bright side:
One less commercial featuring RR speaking for DD.
Silver Lining folks!!
Butrflygirly at 10:06AM on 05/29/08
@Butrflygirly
LMAO! You are 100% correct!
suburbangourmet at 11:42AM on 05/29/08
@suburbangourmet: Just tryin to state the obvious...:)
Now if we could only find a way to incorporate this measure into other bothersome commercials...
Butrflygirly at 12:43PM on 05/29/08
Two words: Rachael Che.
http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/life/comments/yum-o-la-revolucion-rachael-strikeray-strike-che-rocks-a-scarf/
sidesalad at 2:55PM on 05/29/08
I have discovered a new featurette for FoodTV!
30 Minute Jihad with Rachael Ray
bodaciousgirl at 6:34PM on 05/29/08
What really surprises me is that no one at DD realized the similarity between that scarf and the traditional religious garb. For crying out loud, who decided on a gray and white scarf for someone who has made a career out of being annoyingly perky? They couldn't find purple? Hot pink?
chiff0nade at 1:11PM on 05/31/08
This has got to be the most dumb-ass politically correct crap to come down the pike, ever.
Did it ever occur to anyone that perhaps RR was wearing this scarf because she's put on a few pounds and is trying to hide a turkey neck? Your eyes are drawn to her face, then her scarf and since she was obviously shot from the waist up you bypass her tuches and hips. Say what you will about RR but this is political correctness gone awry.
RichardCrystal at 1:19PM on 06/04/08