‘KKK Wednesday’ promotion backfires for Krispy Kreme

OH DEAR. Krispy Kreme has been forced to apologise after upsetting customers over launching a ‘KKK Wednesday’ promotion aimed at children.

KRISPY Kreme UK has been forced to apologise to upset customers after launching a “KKK Wednesday” promotion.

According to the doughnut brand, the acronym stands for “Krispy Kreme Klub,” but as consumers pointed out, those particular three letters are more commonly associated with the Klu Klux Klan.

How did no one over at Krispy Kreme realize that having a KKK Wednesday promotion wasn't a good idea?

— Carrington Harrison (@cdotharrison) February 17, 2015

Krispy Kreme hull is advertising KKK Wednesday. I don't know. I do not know. pic.twitter.com/19pXLFxXsw

— WARNING: Ed Zitron (@edzitron) February 17, 2015

Oh dear. Krispy Kreme in the UK launched their Krispy Kreme Klub for Wednesday. Anyone want a KKK donut?

— vbspurs (@vbspurs) February 17, 2015

KKK Wednesday was meant to take place today after being created as a part of a school holiday program for children by Krispy Kreme’s Hull branch in the UK. The promotion spanned a week and also included activities like Funday Monday, Colouring Tuesday and Face Painting Thursday.

Once news of the promotion hit social media, it quickly drew criticism from across the UK, America and Australia.

no words: http://t.co/S16sXHs7FM

— Dana Wright (@RadioDana) February 17, 2015

Krispy Kreme Wants You To Celebrate 'KKK Wednesday' And Somewhere An Intern Just Got Fired — http://t.co/gInn0uiGxk

— BroBible (@BroBible) February 17, 2015

I wonder if Krispy Kreme UK's "KKK Wednesday" doughnuts are enrobed in a white sugar glaze? https://t.co/l2KwV428YQ pic.twitter.com/TIhq2LFILE

— M. Alex Johnson (@MAlexJohnson) February 17, 2015

Shame on u @krispykreme! You lost my biz. RT @THR Krispy Kreme Apologizes for "KKK Wednesdays" http://t.co/xnAjpqhQA4 pic.twitter.com/fBkRpir2v7

— Long Live The 'Stick (@BelieveInZito) February 17, 2015

“We are aware of the Hull store’s unfortunate naming choice for its Club program, and we are truly sorry for any inconvenience or offense this misstep may have caused our fans,” Krispy Kreme’s PR manager Lafeea Watson told The Huffington Post.

“We do believe this was a completely unintentional oversight on the part of our longtime franchise partners in the UK. They have taken quick and appropriate actions to remove the materials online and in-shops, and have wholeheartedly apologised to their consumers.”

Krispy Kreme ‘wholeheartedly apologise’. Picture Campbell Brodie.

On their website, Krispy Kreme published this statement under the headline “We’re sorry”:

Krispy Kreme apologises unreservedly for the inappropriate name of a customer promotion at one of our stores. We are truly sorry for any offence this completely unintentional oversight may have caused. All material, both online and in the store, has been withdrawn and steps are being taken to ensure that greater precautions are taken with publicity materials in the future.

The idea was created by the Hull store to attract customers into the shop to decorate doughnuts using the Krispy Kreation Station product.

The advertisement, which was originally posted on Facebook, has since been taken down.