Dunkin Donuts has pulled an advertisement featuring Rachael Ray because some people believe she is wearing what could be construed as a terrorist symbol. Apparently, the black and white scarf she wears in the ad resembles a traditional headdress, known as a keffiyeh, worn by Arab men.
The criticism of the scarf was spearheaded by Michelle Malkin, a conservative Fox News commentator. On her blog, she complains about the trendiness of such a powerful symbol:
Popularized by Yasser Arafat and a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos, the apparel has been mainstreamed by both ignorant and not-so-ignorant fashion designers, celebrities, and left-wing icons.
At first Dunkin Donuts dismissed the complaints but later pulled the ad and released the following statement:
In a recent online ad, Rachael Ray is wearing a black-and-white silk scarf with a paisley design. It was selected by her stylist for the advertising shoot. Absolutely no symbolism was intended. However, given the possibility of misperception, we are no longer using the commercial.
I think the whole thing was blown out of proportion. How about you? Do you think anyone could mistake Rachael Ray for a terrorist?
Like I posted on citizensugar, the article in
question is the keffiyeh. According to Merriam-Webster, here is the definition:
Ugh... Rachel Ray. What a sell out. Has anyone figured out she's over populated everything? She's like an adult Hannah Montana. Everywhere you look her face is on everything. Total over exposure and frankly, its getting old.
1