KFC sorry for sending out treat notification on Jewish massacre memorial in Germany

KFC, Kentucky
Fried Chicken, the American fried chicken chain, apologised in Germany for
sending out a ‘treat yourself’ notification on Kristallnacht, Night of Broken
Glass, a day marking the beginning of the Holocaust in 1938.

KFC sent out a
notification on Kristallnacht which read: “It’s memorial day for Kristallnacht!
Treat yourself with more tender cheese on your crispy chicken. Now at KFCheese.”

The notification
irked many for people asked how could a brand be selling food in the name of
the day that began the massacre of Jews by the Nazi Party.

The chain apologised
later saying the notification contained “an obviously unplanned, insensitive
and unacceptable things.”

The Yum Brands
chain said: “We understand the gravity and history of this day, and remain
committed to inclusion and belonging for all.”

Explaining how the
notification went out, KFC said it uses a bot linked to national observances to
create notifications for its mobile app. The brand’s internal review process
wasn’t followed property, resulting in the notification going out to customers,
KFC said.

The chain added
that it has suspended its communications system. “We are very sorry, we will
check our internal processes immediately so that this does not happen again.
Please excuse this error.”

Germany marks
November 9, Kristallnacht, seriously, with numerous memorial events and
discussions scheduled to effect the Nazis’ murder of over six million Jewish
people.

“How wrong can you
get on Kristallnacht KFC Germany,” tweeted Dalia Grinfield, associate director
of European affairs at the Jewish NGO Anti-Defamation League.

Daniel Sugarman, director
of public affairs at the Board of Deputies of British Jews, called the ad “absolutely
hideous.”

KFC comes under
fire for this only days after rapper Kanye West saw his association with brands
sever after he made anti-Semitic comments. Adidas severed ties with the rapper,
and Gap pulled Yeezi itesm from its stores.