I just had to write about this mess:
Angry patrons looking to get a free meal, compliments of talk show host Oprah Winfrey, waited in long lines outside a New York City KFC franchise Wednesday and staged a sit-in when told the restaurant had run out of grilled chicken.There are soo many things wrong with this story. Although I can’t help but laugh at the fact that those who actually wanted to pay faced beatdowns from angry coupon holders.
A coupon available exclusively through the talk show queen Oprah Winfrey’s Web site, oprah.com, for 24 hours Wednesday, had been sought out so frequently that “Oprah Winfrey KFC coupons” was the fifth most-searched item on Google Trends by Wednesday afternoon, hours after it had been posted.
Stores across the country reported they were inundated with customers looking to redeem coupons for “two pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit.” Some restaurants quickly sold out and told customers, who have until May 10 to use their coupons, to come back.
Gothamist, a local blog, posted an e-mail and photos from a customer at the Manhattan branch.
“I went over to our nearest KFC a few minutes ago … and chaos ensued,” the e-mail read. “Despite the very visible grilled chicken behind the register, the manager told everyone with coupons to leave and that the promotion was over for the day. The people there are currently holding a sit-in and refusing to leave until they get their free chicken. … There were 911 calls. Racial epithets were being spewed, people who actually wanted to pay for chicken were facing a potential beat-down, and the manager ran from the screaming horde. Oprah, what have ye wrought?”
But the fact remains that people staged a sit-in for chicken. Chicken! These weren’t starving people begging for a meal, but crazy Americans angry that KFC wouldn’t honor a coupon. And I just know that after the whole Popeyes debacle, black people were involved. Probably spearheaded the revolt. The special runs until May 10. So these angry customers could have just come back to get their free chicken on another day.
And KFC and Oprah hold the responsibility for this foolishness. Oprah, I never thought you’d make the Do Better list, but alas, the day has come.
After seeing Popeyes deal with craziness recently for providing a special on chicken, you and KFC decided, hey, let’s just give away chicken for free for a week or so with coupons! It’s grilled chicken, so it’s healthy! People need this deal! A giant fail to Oprah and KFC for not seeing this bucoonery coming.
The sad thing, is that I’m not even surprised. During the Popeyes special, a woman asked a reporter, "how am I supposed to feed my kids?" Because Popeyes had run out of chicken, this woman had no idea how she was going to provide for her children. Uh huh. There must not have been a grocery store anywhere nearby for her to create a meal for her kids.
[Editor's Note: That clip will nevar get old.]
But what’s really sad is that people are willing to protest over something like this. Is American society so inundated with foolishness that things like Twitter, American Idol, Dancing With the Stars, and KFC specials seem like important issues that one should take a stand over?
Are Americans becoming a silly people?
I threatened to leave black people over their response to the Popeyes special. After this, I can only shake my head. For shame.
Can the heads of all other chicken restaurants think twice about whatever chicken special you’re planning? Don’t try to follow Popeyes and KFC’s steps. You’ve seen the results. But if you do, and there’s a shooting, or one of your employees is held up over a two piece and a biscuit, don’t say you weren’t warned.
Question: Are Americans becoming a silly people? Should Oprah be blamed for this nonsense? Is all this fuss over chicken a sign of the times, or merely an indication that folks cannot turn down free food?
KFC to Honor Oprah's Free Chicken Coupons [ABC]
More From Ebonie [WhatLooksLikeCrazy]
