Krispy Kreme Klan online outrage led the doughnut franchise Krispy Kreme in the United Kingdom to take out its promotional event called KKK Wednesday. Although Krispy Kreme marketing event stands for "Krispy Kreme Klub," online users associated it with a hate group known as Ku Klux Klan.
Caught unaware of what the promotional activity will lead to, a store in Hull, England launched the store promo that is scheduled to take effect this week. However, it created instant Krispy Kreme Klan fury when online users saw the ad in its Facebook page.
"We do believe this was a completely unintentional oversight on the part of our longtime franchise partners in the U.K.," Lafeea Watson spokesperson for UK Krispy Kreme mentioned in a statement shared with USA TODAY.
The Krispy Kreme Klan ad that was previously seen on its Facebook page was taken down immediately on Tuesday afternoon when online users reacted violently associating KKK Wednesday event to the American Hate Group Ku Klux Klan.
As soon as the Krispy Kreme Klan outcry manifested online, the doughnut company apologized sincerely in a statement mentioning the event as completely unintentional oversight on the part of their longtime franchise partners in the U.K.
The Krispy Kreme promotional event was tagged as "Half Term Activities" as students take one week break from school. The marketing KKK event was scheduled to happen from Feb. 16 to Feb. 22 where customers can visit the store to decorate doughnuts.
Ku Klux Klan was founded in 1866 that became a vehicle for white southern resistance to the Republican Party's Reconstruction-era policies. The Klan revived its group in the 20th century denouncing black Americans, Jews, organized labor, gays, lesbians, immigrants and even Catholics according to History.
Some users also took to twitter their reaction on the controversial Krispy Kreme Klan promotional event.
Krispy Kreme thought it would be a good idea to title an event "Krispy Kreme Klub" and straight up put "KKK" on the fliers and im dying
— Raw (@rawanabanana) February 18, 2015
Oops... "Krispy Kreme Wants You To Celebrate ‘KKK Wednesday" Somewhere someone just got fired. https://t.co/JFldmoStfz — Kevin W. Eaches (@Eaches) February 17, 2015
Krispy Kreme advertising 'KKK Wednesdays' for the 'Krispy Kreme Klub.' Apparently the name was chosen by Head Office too. Good lord.
