This post is part of our Ads Gone Bad series. Share your thoughts and memories of this ad in the comments, and be sure to check out our other posts on marketing gone wrong.
Was Rachael Ray wearing a keffiyeh, the ancient traditional Bedouin headdress that has lately become the symbol of Palestinian extremists, especially the Fatah? No, she wasn't, but when Michelle Malkin wondered if Dunkin' Donuts spokescheerleader Rachael Ray was promoting terrorism in an online ad, Dunkin' Donuts pulled it almost immediately.
Rachael Ray's paisley scarf with a fringe, selected by her stylist, wasn't anywhere close to a keffiyeh (and it turns out there are disagreements about whether the white-and-black color is a symbol of terrorism, or it's the red-and-black; even Palestinians can't agree). Honestly, I don't think it looks great on her, but what do I know. For Dunkin' Donuts to pull an ad based on the rantings of an ultra-conservative columnist? Far more worthy of boycott than being accused of having a spokeswoman who might wear a paisley scarf while drinking a Cool Latte. One liberal pundit says she's sticking with Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) until the ad comes back. What do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
9-06-2008 @ 11:41PM
jessi said...
oh my gosh. The fact that they take offence because they think this add was supporting terrorism is whats offensive. even if the scarf can be used as muslim head dress, it does NOT mean that they are supporting terrorism because not all muslims are terrorists! there for, the poeple who take issue w/ this add are steriotyping muslims. either way, she wasnt wearing it as a head dress...she was wearing it as a SCARF! as do many other people who like scarfs....and fasion....
9-09-2008 @ 1:08PM
Jim said...
Boy some people see something offensive in anything. How does a scarf worn the way it's supposed to be look like anything but that. I never thought of it as anything else and doubt the advertisers or DD saw it as anything but a scarf.
If they think it looks that way get hold of the makers and stores who sell it - tell them what you think. They will laugh.
IT'S A SCARF FOLKS!!
9-10-2008 @ 1:04PM
Elmer said...
If you play the commercial backwards, you can hear satanic messages stating "your president will keep USA at war for over 6 years, killing thousands, and many innocent civilian kids."
How creepy...
9-13-2008 @ 8:44PM
Ashram said...
What gets me kind of perturbed are the comments from people.
Basically, they take what one person says and blames it on an entire ideology.
"It's all the fault of the trailer park redneck conservatives!"
So, the *INDIVIDUAL* who acted like the jerk and took the ad way out of proportion isn't responsible?
That's about as bad as blaming all blacks for gang crime, all whites for lynchings, all latinos for illegal immigration ... you get my drift.
Certainly, there are jerks in conservative circles. But, they can also be found in liberal circles and everything in between. It's not ideology that makes one a cretin, but his/her individual personality.
Being a jerk is not exclusive to "crazy conservatives" or "loony liberals." Regardless of your beliefs, you only have to *be* a jerk to act like one.
So, place the blame where it belongs: to the jerk who made the asinine comparison between Rachel Ray and a terrorist on nothing more than a small, insignificant piece of fabric in a coffee shop commercial.
10-26-2008 @ 8:53AM
Macy Ella said...
Oh. My. God. IT'S A FUCKING SCARF! GET OVER IT, ASSHOLES.
10-26-2008 @ 12:20PM
Courtney said...
WOW people are getting really uptight and stupid....... ITS A FRIGGING SCARF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!I like that scarf too if I decide to go out in public wearing something like that am I gonna be accused of supporting Palestinian extremists? Dunkin Donuts should not have rolled over and played dead either BOTH sides are at fault. Shes a pretty girl wearing a pretty scarf..... nothing more just to give the finger to stupid people im gonna go to Dunkin Donuts after church today.... lol and im gonna like it- Courtney
10-26-2008 @ 2:35PM
charlie said...
I was firmly in the camp of those who thought Rachel Ray looked stylish in that outfit when someone told me it was Michelle Malkin who bitched. Now I'm in a quandry. Michelle is way hot and has a brain that smokes as well. Wish I didn't have to choose but I'm a stand up tall guy. I go with the scarf...will someone give me Michelle's email so I can express my undying love and admiration?????
10-26-2008 @ 2:30PM
SarahPalin said...
Hey listen up...can someone send one of those scarves to the Republican National Committee? Will I wear it.....you betcha
10-30-2008 @ 2:38PM
GioCer said...
What I find truly frightening is that One person's twisted interpretation to DD's commercial would inspire them to claim that the people involved were promoting terrorism.
To further the shock, DD PULLED the AD!
Is this not similar to McCarthyism? Rather then having a witch hunt against communist we now have it toward anything that resembles Islam, or middle east in origin?
Haven't we as a society of mixed people learned that this type of behavior does nothing more then to fuel stereotypes and discrimination.
Ms.Malkin should be ashamed of herself, she should be intelligent enough to understand at the very least the human ability to see familiar objects in abstract forms and as such, her "assuming" that Ms.Rey was promoting terrorist based on a fashion choice is completely irresponsible for someone in Ms.Malkin's position.
Dunkin' Donuts themselves should be ashamed in submitted themselves so quickly to one person's opinion without so much of at least pointing the obvious out. That Ms. Malkin/MaCarthy sees terrorist everywhere! And simply by submitting themselves to her, the only accomplished to weaken what we as Americans' hold dear...Our Freedom of speech.
11-18-2008 @ 4:14PM
SEAN MCCABE said...
SOMEONE WAS STUPID ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO THIS PARINOID FREAK M.M.!? I HAVE TO BE MISSING SOMETHING. THE SCARFE REMINDS HER OF A TURBIN??? I THINK THE ONLY IDIOTS THAT WOULDE SAY ANYTHING LIKE THAT WOULD HAVTO BE A TERRORIST THEMSELVS. MELKINS A TERRORIST! CRY ABOUT THIS ONE YOU BIMBO GINCH. MELKINS A TERRORIST. I MUST REPORT THIS TO OUR COMMANDER AND CHEIF.M THATS RIGHT. OBAMA, HEAR ME MELKIN! OBAMA!!!