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?
Tod's
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.
1How ridiculous! When I read this article this morning I almost barfed... that people would link a scarf to terrorism is insane.
2I don't think anyone ever thought that Rachael Ray was a terrorist.
Quite frankly, I think the scarf is ugly and I'm curious as to why the stylist thought it was a good choice at all.
3Yes!!!
Just kidding, this is ridiculous! People have too much time on their damn hands to be complaining about a Dunkin Doughnuts Billboard, how about more important matters, like the fact that 3 years later New Orleans is still in shambles, or how so many teachers are being laid off and our children won't have proper educations!!! >/
4People complain about everything and complain too much about the most petty things.
5Ok I am biting my tongue not to say what I think about Michelle Malkin, but seriously, the woman has a national forum to discuss serious issues, and this is what she picks? I m with you La Dolce Vita...
6I'm with you LaDolceVita! There's so many other issues happening right now that she calls attention to this? Sad and pathetic.
7these scarves are hip in Europe (I've seen kids wearing them in London, Paris, and Prague), so I think the stylist was just trying to make RR hip.
8The world is a scary place if a scarf is a symbol of terrorism.
9This is another way for us to had people who have done nothing to us.
It is an Urban Outfitters scarf and most def does not look like a keffiyeh. Ridiculous.
10Word, Dana 18.
First of all, it's Rachel damn Ray...does anyone really think that Food Network would let one of their biggest cash cows wear something that is akin to rotating a swastika and pinning it to herself?
I'm holding back a lot here....but drawing attention to this non-issue puts America in a really negative light...no one everyone thinks we just attack at will because we're a collective bunch of neurotic fools.
11*Evidently* akin is actually what I meant to say
12she terrifies me but for different reasons than a scarf.
toddler torso, leotard shirts tucked into jeans, tiny seperated boobs, giant mouth, EVOO, Sammies, Hypocrite........
13Just stop watching the over right Fox news. Send them an email and let them know. Or email their news sponsors.
14GOD she's ugly..
15i think its sad how overly sensative we've become to well... everything! the fact that a scarf a stylist picked out in a D&D ad is causing such controversy is absurd. absolutely absurd
16I despise RR, but this whole thing is ridiculous.
17This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Totally absurd!
18this is the most ridiculous thing i have heard. how about we focus on some more important stuff than a stupid scarf in a dunkin donuts ad
19Michelle Malkin is always "outraged" about something or other. What a windbag.
20Over reaction anyone? This is just the most absurd thing for people to get upset about. As my brother said "Christ, this makes me hate people."
21This is one of the stupidest controversies I have ever seen. Does anyone SERIOUSLY believe that this is the intention? This scarf has an obviously different pattern....I am more offended that she's advertising this garbage.
22Actually - a LOT of people wear stuff that they have NO CLUE has traditional meanings. I don't think it's anything deliberate though.
23Haha, that's so crazy. As if a scarf on Rachael Ray could make a Dunkin' Donuts commercial anti-American. Yeah right.
And paisley is not equal to terrorist!
24Wow, that's just really silly.
25Ahhhhhhhh... This shows how stupid people can be sometimes. Although keffiyeh was associated with the Palestinian cause it does not mean that everyone that wears it is a terrorist. it is like everyone who wears a brown shirt are - just cause terrorists do. Come on. It is a common scarf in the middle east and so people need to let it go and focus on more important things.
26Rachael Ray IS a terrorist.
Of good food.
I don't think she's the jihad-loving kind, though.
27I think the only reason that they are now an “issue” is because it's something deemed Arab and who knows if this scarf is authentic hell Abercrombie and Fitch have there own version of a Keffiyeh. Most of of know the truth behind the scandal. People of Arab decent are more and more being discriminated against and anything that looks as if to “support” an Arab cause ( right or wrong) is deem a “terrorist” act or dangerous and that is just sad.
28I have one of those scarves. I bought it for cheap in Camden on my trip to London last summer. They're fashion now and have also been used by the British military for years as well. People of all stripes wear them in the Middle East. They are worn by terrorist groups, but not exclusively. It's like saying everyone who wears a bandana is a gang member.
29Malkin's been spewing off base right-wing crap for years... This is ridiculous. If I were of Arab decent I would be offended that once again one's clothing links one to terrorism. Utter bull.
30I personally think Dunkin Donuts is thrilled with this controversy. Look how much attention it is getting! I never would have laid eyes on the RR ad had she not worn the "scarf of terror". Makes me want a donut right about now...
31oh you've got to be f-ing kidding me....Rachel Ray, a terrorist??? Jesus christ, this is what America has come to....you wear a scarf that looks like something Arab men wear and it's a national controversy?? Everyone obviously knows that she didnt use the real traditional headress and isnt trying to insult anyone...there are much more important things to pay attention to nowadays...
32that is so silly
33off topic
I know RR has a polarizing personality, but really, why do so many people hate her? I just don't understand it. I can understand not liking her, but to call her names and a terrorist of food seems to imply hate. So please tell, what is up?
34Rachael Ray is REALLY irritating but nobody in their correct mind would think she is (or is trying to imitate) a terrorist.
35That is crazy. I love Dunkin Donuts. Also it's been pointed out that Pete Wentz is wearing the same scarf, is he a terrorist too?
36People are in real danger of having to live in their car or in a tent, others who don't know if their paycheck will pay for food for their kids tonight, and I should be the least tiniest bit concerned about a scarf that an overexposed RR is wearing?? What a non-issue, IMHO.
37I don't really pay attention to what the media says about anything anymore so I did not even realize someone at Fox News said anything. I have to say when I saw the ad I thought the scarf did resemble a keffiyeh. I do not think anyone would actually think RR is a terriost but I can see how the scarf could be offensive to some. I really do not see this as that big of controversy. At the end of the day everything we say or do probably offends someone, somewhere.
38Love your comment EatYourVeggies
Like I posted on citizensugar, the article in
question is the keffiyeh. According to Merriam-Webster, here is the definition:
Main Entry:
kaf·fi·yeh Listen to the pronunciation of kaffiyeh
Variant(s):
also kef·fi·yeh \kə-ˈfē-ə\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Arabic kūfīya, kaffīya, from al-Kufa Al-Kufa, town in Iraq
Date:
circa 1817
: an Arab headdress consisting of a square of cloth folded to form a triangle and held on by a cord
So at minimum she is so wearing it the wrong way to be classified as a terrorist. And at the other end the flippin scarf is a black and white paisley print.
39syako cannot speak for others (I kinda like her even though I thought EatYourVeggies' comment was funny) I think that folks think she is TOO perky and find her shorthand for stuff rather irritating. Also years ago there was an article about her in the New York Times and she has a lot of critics among food purists who do not think she really qualifies as a "chef."
May mostly have to do with personality too.
40I don't know what you people are talking about. That scarf has terrorized millions of innocent people. No matter where that scarf chooses to hide we will find it. I'm so sick of you scarf loving liberals and your fashion statements. Michelle Malkin is an American hero. She alone can stand against the neck ware that threatens our freedom. What we need is a good old fashion scarf burning to show the rest of the world that Americans won't stand for radical clothing anymore. U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
41Great idea Just Kidding. I think I'm going to form a vigilante group with all the other house wives in my neighbourhood. We'll riot in the streets, round up all those scarf wearing terrorists and keep the world safe for democracy.
42sidra5397, I am actually offended by the whole this issue. It's not because am an Arab. Mainly because some people in this world still think we are all terrorist and anything we wear resemble terrorism.
43Fox News is lame. They promote bad stereotypes and want people to be afraid all the time.
44This is the most RIDICULOUS story I've ever heard! Everyone is SO freakin' OVER SENSITIVE! Get OVER it! It's come to the point now that you can't even friggin' wear GREEN SOCKS or someone will think you're bashing Kermit the Frog! HOLY CRAP! I like the scarf and ya know what? I'm gonna go buy one and wear JUST to make people mad! That is soooooooooo stupid!
45I'll bet the fed is tapping her phone right now. Soon we will watch her live from Guantanamo Bay.
46It is just a scarf! People need to get over it and stop being so overly-sensitive.
47WTF?
48Rachael Ray is the farthest thing from a terrorist! People really have nothing better to complain about??? this is ridiculous!
49This is just ridiculous. It's just an ugly scarf. It was a fashion mistake, not a sign that she's a terrorist.
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