Advertising is a tricky business, and apparently wearing the wrong scarf can send the message that “This company tolerates and supports terrorist organizations!” Sounds crazy? That’s because it is, as exemplified by the Dunkin’ Donuts recent pulling of an advertisement it was airing with spokesperson (and chef superstar) Rachael Ray wearing a scarf around her neck that resembled a keffiyeh, or traditional Arab scarf.
The offensive piece of fashion was slapped down by syndicated conservative Fox News commentator Michelle Malkin (Fox also owns Beliefnet), who said that by wearing the scarf, Dunkin’ was dabbling in “distinctive hate couture.”
Muslims and Arabs answered back, saying that demonizing a single article of clothing was “ludicrous.” In a New York Post article, Ahmed Rehab, a spokesperson for the Council on American-Islamic Relations, said “Yes, it has symbolized Palestinians, but it’s also a yuppie fashion statement. I’ve seen young blond women wear it on the Tube in London and in Lincoln Park in Chicago. If it’s become a political statement, I didn’t get the memo on it.”
A Dunkin’ Donuts representative said the whole thing was blown out of proportion, and commenting on it was just “ridiculous.” But what I think is ridiculous was pulling the ad in the first place. Malkin says she wasn’t the only one offended, that numerous conservative blogs voiced their concerns about the ads. But since when do companies pull expensive advertisements off the air just because some folks find something offensive about it–something that is just not offensive to begin with?
I know other companies have pulled ads and products before that were deemed offensive to a group of people—like when Nike pulled 38,000 shoes off the shelves that had the logo “Air” on it in a style that made it look like Arabic script for the word “Allah.”
But here’s the difference. In Nike’s case, it was a logo that looked like a religious script on a shoe, which was offensive to Muslims the world over. And with Dunkin’ Donuts, the problem was a scarf with no overt religious symbolism at all. Just a pattern that resembled a keffiyeh, which is worn fashionably all over the world.
It’s a scarf, folks. A scarf bought by a stylist at a store to accent Ray’s outfit. Nothing more, nothing less. Have some backbone, Dunkin’!
posted May 29, 2008 at 1:27 pm
Honestly, I’m amazed they didn’t fire her as a spokeswoman after news outlets reported that she had demanded Starbucks coffee while on a Dunkin commercial set.
posted May 29, 2008 at 6:32 pm
I’d heard that they canned her for expressing her preference for Starbucks. I’d heard nothing about the “scarf” issue until here. Is is remotely possible that SOMEBODY is awfully thin-skinned and/or a tad bit of a conspiracy theorist?
This whole thing smacks of mob mentality to me.
posted May 30, 2008 at 12:41 am
OK, call me naive – I did not know FOX owns B’net. As Dave Letterman used to say, “Things, that make you go ‘hmmmmm’”.
It is just a scarf used by millions of people. I have one myself, bought on the streets of Jerusalem. I like it because it is cotton and makes any number of layers for keeping warm. To make it something more is to pee in the pool. Lazy, pointless, and selfish. Any “journalist” who makes it something more is a fool simply trying to make a name for themselves. Would this same synapse-free nudnick make an issue of all the kids who wear towels on their heads for Christmas Pageants? Are they also supporting terrorists? No, and actually the nerf-herder making the comment is actually more of the problem. Their ignorance is spread like algae on a pond – choking out life and polluting the community.
posted May 30, 2008 at 1:50 pm
“The offensive piece of fashion was slapped down by syndicated conservative Fox News commentator Michelle Malkin (Fox also owns Beliefnet), who said that by wearing the scarf, Dunkin’ was dabbling in ‘distinctive hate couture.’”
Really? In my opinion, Ms. Malkin is “dabbling in distinctive ignorance” and I personally find it unbelievable that someone appearing on national news, presumably as a professional or quasi-professional commentator, is so unaware of current fashions that she would make such a statement. I don’t even follow current fashion trends, but have seen those scarves on many people in public and in photos.
This paranoia is ridiculous, and the fact that Dunkin’ Donuts played into it is even more ridiculous and disappointing.
posted May 30, 2008 at 3:10 pm
Since when do people believe anything a commentator on Fox News says?
Ever since they reported as true a fake news story about a Muslim kid in school having a ham put on his plate, I quit believing anything that’s said by them.
I can’t believe the execs at Dunkin Donuts– let alone anyone with a brain– would be so Islamophobic that they would coil in terror at a scarf.
It’s time to turn off the Fox channel for good.
blessed be,
Cern
posted June 6, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I am amazed at the lengths people will go to to demonise Islam. Even if the scarf looked like whatever they thought it looked like (it looks like a piece of cloth to me)what’s wrong with that?
Are all Muslims terrorists?
Are all terrorists Muslims?
Is the IRA then the European branch of Al Queda?
Are any of the endless groups (don’t remember any save the IRA thats why I mentioned them) of people (who just seem to like killing other people for a “cause”) all arms of this Al Queda group which like a many armed thingee is trying to take over the world and make us all wear jilabs and keffiyeh.
I mean when is this stupidity going to stop!!
Me? I for one am glad I live in Trinidad and Tobago. You Americans may keep your paranoia and allow it to continue to paralyse your development. I welcome the arrival of Barack Obama on the scene. Maybe his cool, calm, nothing-can-touch-me-nothing-can-rattle-me attitude will bring sanity back to your country.
Peace be with you all.
posted June 6, 2008 at 12:13 pm
I won’t be visiting Dunkin Donuts anymore because of their condoning Islamaphobic and anti-Arab views. I would suggest others who don’t want more cultural censorship to also boycott Dunkin Donuts until they apologize and repent for their ignorant actions.
posted June 6, 2008 at 12:24 pm
There is way to much profiling and paranoia generated by the news media. This incident is just one more example.
I have seen far more offensive sexually explicit adds I wish were pulled. The scarf issue is just another piece of propaganda generated against Islam.
posted June 6, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Frankly I am glad they pulled the ad. The scarf was ugly. And I am about sick of Rachel Ray.
Dunkin Donuts, should have stuck with their ad but hey, I’m a big boy and will still go there. They have great coffee.
Those of us in the world who find either item offensive, the scarf OR Dunkin’ pulling the ad really should worry about important things.
posted June 6, 2008 at 1:34 pm
If I had been a woman, I would call all my friends, of all religious backrounds and cultures to weare the scarf in the same manner and style;To show support to those humilladed!
posted June 6, 2008 at 2:21 pm
WELL, I’VE HEARD EVERYTHING NOW. I LIVE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, AND IN A CITY WHICH IS NEARLY 90% MUSLIM.
THIS IS SIMPLY ATTROCIOUS, AS WELL AS HILARIOUS.
I DID NOT THINK I’D LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO WITNESS SUCH HYPOCRISY, ON BOTH SIDES OF THE PROVERBIAL COIN.
NOW, I SHOULD TELL YOU THAT HERE, IN JAKARTA, THERE ARE SIMPLY COUNTLESS DUNKIN’ DONUTS FRANCHISES, WITH COUNTLESS GOOD LITTLE MUSLIM BOYS AND GIRLS, (OKAY, MEN AND WOMAN. LET ME BE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH ALL P.C. FOLKS’ DEMANDS, SO I TOO, AM NOT IN NEED OF CENSORSHIP).
YOU SHOULD JUST see THE NUMBER OF WOMEN WEARING JILBABS (TRADITIONAL MUSLIM HEADGEAR, BOTH THE “FASHIONABLE” AS WELL AS THE “SUPREMELY UGLY” VARIETY)HERE, EATING DONUTS AND DRINKING COFFEE, WITH THEIR KIDS.
GUESS THEY DID NOT EVEN HEAR OF THIS ABOMINABLE SITUATION.
I HAD NO IDEA THAT BELIEFNET CAME UNDER THE ‘UMBRELLA’ OF GOOD OLD CONSERVATIVE FOX.
WHAT A HEAD TRIP THIS IS. ANYWAY, I DIGRESS.
I HAVE GOT TO SAY THAT I AM ALL FOR FREEDOM TO WEAR WHATEVER ONE WISHES, AND THAT INCLUDES THE RIGHT (FOR EXAMPLE) OF NUNS TO BE “MAINSTREAM” DRESSERS, AS WELL AS TO DEMAND THE PREROGATIVE TO WEAR CAPES AND VEILS.
THAT BRINGS ME TO A MOOT POINT. IF, SAY, A NUN IN TRADITIONAL RELIGIOUS GEAR WERE TO HAVE BEEN FILMED, WOULD THAT MEAN THAT DUNKIN’ DONUTS SUPPORTED THE IRA???
WELL, YOU CAN SEE MY PERSPECTIVE ON ALL THIS.
I AM MUSLIM (TA-DAAAH! AND — WAIT FOR IT — AN AMERICAN, TO BOOT!)AND I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A) PEOPLE PROTESTED WITH RESPECT TO RACHEL RAY’S LITTLE PRE-CHOSEN SCARF, NOR THAT B) DUNKIN’ DONUTS, BUSY FEEDING MANY OF THE WORLD’S MUSLIM POPULATION (AS DOES KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN, BURGER KING, MC DONALD’S, AND OTHER HUGE CONGLOMERATES, NOT FORGETTING KRISPY KREME ) WAS SO WEAK IN ITS KNEE-JERK REACTION, THAT IT FELT COMPELLED TO PULL THE ADVERTISMENT FROM THE PUBLIC’S MIDDLE-CLASS MINDS.
I AM FED UP WITH IT ALL.
CARE TO JOIN ME IN THIS SENTIMENT??
posted June 6, 2008 at 2:27 pm
I never cease to be amazed by the ignorance in this country. The ultimate irony for me is that I have patronized a couple of Dunkin’ Donuts in my area, owned and operated by delightful (Pakistani) Muslim families.
No, there is no terrorism in the Splenda, folks.
posted June 6, 2008 at 9:17 pm
You know what, even if it WAS a “keffiyeh”, SO WHAT?! And so what if Rachel even decided to wear it in traditional MUSLIM style, someday! Would that make her a “terrorist”??
Whatever happened to “freedom of religion” in this country??
Or for that matter, how about just “freedom of expression”, period??
Seems like we’re all expected to be a bunch of “conformists” now.
These people, who want to deny a person the right to even wear a SCARF, or to practice a certain religion, for that matter, do NOT represent AMERICAN VALUES! (while they are all the time screaming, that they are the “patriots” & it’s the “terrorists” who are trying to “destroy the American way of life”!)
Watching Rachel Ray make some Calzones right now…
(Not exactly “halal”, but hey, unlike some people, I’m TOLERANT!)
posted June 7, 2008 at 12:19 am
People are really getting stupider by the minute. I can’t imagine Americans being offended, when you think about all the things truly screwed up in, or courtesy of America. We can always hang our hat on the, “well, it’s the kinda best, kinda freest, kinda constitutionalest, kinda religious country on the planet”. Hey, she always could have been advertising milk-boarded or coffee-boarded donuts. Now that would have been a commercial.
posted June 7, 2008 at 10:04 am
…..We hold these truths that all men are created equal (and women too) (quid pro quo addendum , its’ in small print to match the small minds that would really use this line of thought ) …unless said men or women look like , people that are just plain evil or ignorant or maybe so different from me that it questions my world view and I cannot have that at all , and only if said evil doing or ignorant people bear no likeness to the majority ethnic group in this country)
this rant unfortuneately is wha I see every day here in middle America , I live near an Airforce base so all the patriotic Bunting and yellow ribbons thought while pretty to look at for me and my children , the meaning seems lost to teh majority of people and are simply lawn decorations to them and to me it tarnishes them. When did patriotism become Xeonphobic , racist fanaticism here in this country ? when did it get so bad that I cannot turn on my tv and see it played and volleyd so openly by hypocrites that say its thier right to free speech (hate mongering , fear mongering is free speech — yeah it is ) but then those same people look to cry outrage when someone innocently wears a scarf , that looks like something that a person from a part of the world would wear (and it’s not a religious symbol) My (deity name insert here) people its a scarf , a scarf I choose to wear when I was in service of my country in places where the sand and dust crawled into your lungs and eyes every second trying to blind you or choke you (and I am glad I had it)
–End Rant–
posted June 7, 2008 at 1:03 pm
I see Dunkin Donuts as being as one of the victims here… They paid to make the ad — including the cost of Rachel Ray, which is not cheap — and now they can’t use it.
I do disagree with those who say ‘hey, Dunkin, get some backbone and stick with the ads’. Ads of this sort are not political statements. They are made to increase sales, period. To the extent any ad, for WHATEVER reason, ceases to fulfill its purpose, the advertiser should feel free to pull it. Some people see ‘hate’ in the ad, and therefore want it pulled. Some other see ‘a need to stand up and make a statement’ in the ad, and therefore want it to stay on the air. The advertiser never intended to send either one of these messages, and should not feel obligated to either PULL or KEEP the ad to satisfy either party.
posted June 12, 2008 at 4:49 am
I live in Africa and belive the biggest threat to the US and world peace are the hate mongers in America. What happened to the Lincoln America!
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