Dunkin' Donuts Ad Stirs Terror Flap

Critics: Celebrity Chef's Black-And-White Scarf Symbolically Supports Muslim Extremism

(AP)  Dunkin' Donuts said Wednesday it stopped running an online advertisement featuring Rachael Ray after complaints that a fringed black-and-white scarf that the celebrity chef wore in the ad offers symbolic support for Muslim extremism and terrorism.

The coffee and baked goods chain said the ad that began appearing online May 7 was pulled over the past weekend because "the possibility of misperception detracted from its original intention to promote our iced coffee."

In the spot, Ray wears the scarf around her neck and holds an iced coffee while standing in front of trees with pink blossoms.

Critics, including conservative commentator Michelle Malkin, complained that the scarf looked similar to the black-and-white checkered kaffiyeh, the traditional Palestinian scarf. Critics who fueled online complaints about the ad in blogs say such scarves have come to symbolize Muslim extremism and terrorism.

The kaffiyeh, Malkin wrote in a column posted online last Friday, "has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad. 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."

A statement issued by Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin' Brands Inc., however, said the scarf had a paisley design, and was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot.

"Absolutely no symbolism was intended," the company said.

Dunkin' spokeswoman Michelle King said the ad appeared on the chain's Web site, as well as other commercial sites.

Malkin, in a posting following up on last week's column, said of Dunkin's decision to pull the ad, "It's refreshing to see an American company show sensitivity to the concerns of Americans opposed to Islamic jihad and its apologists."

Ray, host of the Food Network television program "30 Minute Meals" as well as a syndicated daytime talk show, began appearing in ads for Dunkin' Donuts in March 2007. When Dunkin' announced the partnership, it said Ray would be featured in TV, print, radio and online spots in a campaign running through 2010.

[zorar-2009]

No Dunkin Donut Coffee for you...
If the origins of coffee below is true ..does this mean everyone that drinks coffee or sells coffee could be linked to terroists..


"The word "coffee" entered English in 1598 via Italian caffh. This word was created via Turkish kahve, which in turn came into being via Arabic qahwa, a truncation of qahhwat al-bun or wine of the bean. Traditional Islam prohibits the use of alcohol as a beverage, and coffee provided a suitable alternative to wine.

There are several legendary accounts of the origin of the drink itself. One account involves the Yemenite Sufi mystic Shaikh ash-Shadhili. When traveling in Ethiopia, the legend goes, he observed goats of unusual vitality, and, upon trying the berries that the goats had been eating, experienced the same vitality. A similar myth attributes the discovery of coffee to an Ethiopian goatherder named Kaldi and the Legend of Dancing Goats.

One possible origin of both the beverage and the name is the Kingdom of Kaffa in Ethiopia, where the coffee plant originated (its name there is bunn or bunna).

[tootall10142]

When the terroist start stopping by dunkin donuts we can swing by and arrest them.racheal would sell more coffee wearing nothing at all!

[briannorwood]

Michelle Malkin is a moron and a bigot. Period!

[darrren12000]

this country has totally flipped out

[DaveGress]

jamesm12341 - STFup. Who cares what you think anyway? Only you is my guess.

Here''s another broken record for you: GEOGRE W. BUSH LET TERRORISTS STIRKE THIS COUNTRY!!! No one else but him. Stop supporting that loser!

[DaveGress]

Hey everyone, don''t terrorists wear NIKE? It''s the shoe of choice with most terrorists. I here they also eat ice cream and rice. ****! Stop the presses.

[blancadebree]

What about all the other pro terrorist ads out there? When is someone going to force these companies to pull their adverts?

McDonald''s shows people eating with their fingers. Arabs eat with their fingers. Many terrorists are Arabs. Terrorists eat with their fingers. Shame!

GM shows people driving cars powered by gas. Gas is made from oil. Oil is owned by Arabs. Some terrorists are Arabs. Some terrorists have oil. Shame!

Hilton shows people sleeping in beds. Terrorists sleep in beds. Shame!

Tampax shows women riding horses and smiling. Terrorists ride horses and smile. Shame!

Let''s boycott these companies now and stop this spread of terrorist propaganda.

http://blancadebree.blogspot.com

[erichsh]

Fascinating. The very same crowd that dismisses this scarf flap are the first in line screaming to take down Confederate flags.

[rosesnpearls]

Please! It looks like a shredded rag; who can even tell that it is black and white. Must be more of the Cindy Sheehans of the world.

[extremophil]

Let''s get her!!

[zorar-2009]

Everybody is being fooled except Dunkin Donuts.
A. (2)Dunkin Donuts $ a Cup of coffee ....$3.29
B. Rachel''s scarf......$ 72.50
C. Dunkin Donuts web page design cost...$350.00
D. Free advertising at the expense of
Terroists..Priceless!

Only in USA...

[jetlizhan]

this story is so stupid, it doesn''t merit a comment.

[kpokey]

In the land of the free, we are not free to wear a scarf, if the Fox News Republican crazies have their way. They are dangerous to our freedom...does that make them terrorists?! Seriously, I think it does.

[newsnut123]

jetlizhan: but yet you left one, didnt ya? yeahhhh

[newsnut123]

to blancadebree: youre just plain stupid!!

[jetlizhan]

newsnut123 -
i knew some ????? would take the bait and it''s you. oh, i definitely have a strong opinion on the subject, but like i said, it''s not worth the bother.

[thcarson-2009]

I''m a republican and also feel that this is completely moronic.

[zorar-2009]

jetlizhan... 2 comments & counting

Ray is truly dumber than a box of rocks. This shows you what a great smile can accomplish.

[nolalou]

Dunkin Donut''s wimped out by pulling this ad! Michelle Malkin can read anything she wants into it, all it proves is what a paranoid idiot Michelle Malkin is!

[briannorwood]

Oooooh! I''m sooo afraid! Rachael Ray might put anthrax in my Potatoes Al Gratin! I''ll have to vote Republican in order to protect Democracy from this evil chef!

[crater7]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!!!

WOW!!!! WE HAVE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THAT HAS BEEN ENDORSED BY ALL OF OUR ENEMY''S, " CASTRO, HAMAS, AHMADINEJEDI, AHMED YOUSEF,"HAMAS," CHAVEZ, N KOREA, LOUIS FARRAKHAN, SELF ADMITTED TERRORIST, AYERS AND THE ONE AND ONLY REV. WRIGHT.

YET CNN, AND THE MEDIA STILL SUPPORTS AND CAMPAIGNS FOR OBAMA, AND DOESNT THINK HIS ASSOCIATIONS ARE A SECURITY ISSUE TO UNITED STATES. HMMMMMMM

WOW! WOW!. RACHEL RAY, THE 30 MINUTE MEAL GAL. WOW!

GO RACHEAL. GO HILLARY.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[jjp735i]

It was just a scraf. Leave it to the Right to make a huge issue over nothing once again. What''s next? A kilt is too gay maybe?

It is amazing what some people can read into something that is really nothing. I am more concerned that she is endorsing sugary, unhealthy food. I don''t think I will try another of her recipes. She can wear whatever scarf she wants.

[zorar-2009]

A paranoid pro-Jewish blogger Pam Geller started tis nonsense see below:
"The controversial ad, which appeared earlier this month on the doughnut chain''s Web site to promote its iced coffee, came under fire nearly two weeks ago when pro-Jewish blogger Pam Geller posted it under the headline "Rachel [sic] Ray: Dunkin Donuts Jihad Tool."

"Have you seen Rachel [sic] Ray wearing the icon of Yasser Arafatbastard and the bloody Islamic jihad," Geller wrote. "This is part of the cultural jihad."

[briannorwood]

degress12:

You''re right! Terrorists DO wear NIKE! Didn''t that "Shoe Bomber" guy try to light his NIKEs?

We definitely have to boycott NIKE!

And...didn''t the 9/11 guys have clothes on? I''m sure I saw them wearing clothes!

We should all boycott clothes and run around butt nekkid!

[irishbrat66]

UM, they''re kidding, right??? The level of stupidity and paranoia of some people never ceases to amaze me.

[closethippy1]

The type of scarf Ms. Ray used for the commercial is used across the Middle East and it''s also very popular in Europe.
I suppose the first thing that will impress people in those two continents is how some Americans can get all upset about something like that and yet be so critical of any Muslim that gets upset about a cartoon of the prophet Mohammed.
It''s like when 9/11 happened and many Arabs refused to recognize that it was other Arabs who did it, and not Jews, or the CIA or any of that nonsense.
Well, the Arabs retorted "Look, we''re not the only irrational ones here. Many Americans actually believe that either Saddam Hussein was behind 9/11, or that he even had anything to do with Al Qaeda, or that he could use WMDs on any country in less than 45 minutes, or even have any WMD."
To me paranoia is a human condition and as such people in the media and in politics need to be responsible about not using it to stir trouble.

[mecury69]

I''d fire the fashion designer who selected it. Not because of the potential display of support for terrorism but, yikes, it''s HIDEOUS!

[crater7]

PLEASE DONATE TO THE "KEEP MICHELLE HAPPY FUND."


DEMAND BARACK BUY MICHELLE A PUPPY, AND MAKE HER PROUD OF HER COUNTRY, AGAIN.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[briannorwood]

crater7:

And is your trailer a double-wide?

[crater7]

BARACK OBAMA SHOULD IMMEDIATELY DEMAND THAT RACHEL RAY STOP COURTING HIS SUPPORTERS.

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

[closethippy1]

I''''d fire the fashion designer who selected it. Not because of the potential display of support for terrorism but, yikes, it''''s HIDEOUS!
Posted by mecury69 at 08:47 AM : May 29, 2008

Gay.

[credibility2]

Considering the photo and the scarf, Ray''s designer could''ve come up with any number of other possibilities that even from a color perspective, would''ve looked much better. Obviously the print is too small to be discerned and therefore useless. Ray looks like a goof anyway and the scarf doesn''t help matters much. Perhaps if she were wearing it on top of her head.....now that would''ve made for interesting discussion...

[liberalme]

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

Posted by crater7

You prove on a daily basis what a great Rev Wright follower you are---you quote in admiration of someone just like yourself!

[grumpas]

I never ceased to be amazed at how immature and petty neocon Republican''s are!!! Who but a petty conservative would even bother writing something into a ugly scarf that is being worn????? They must spend their days and nights looking for such insignificant items to belly-ache and whine about! Get A Life Michelle!!!!! Maybe your paranoia won''t require a good Psychiatrist!

[liberalme]

You''''re right! Terrorists DO wear NIKE! Didn''''t that "Shoe Bomber" guy try to light his NIKEs?

We definitely have to boycott NIKE!

And...didn''''t the 9/11 guys have clothes on? I''''m sure I saw them wearing clothes!

We should all boycott clothes and run around butt nekkid!
Posted by briannorwood

We also need to boycott grocery stores, lots of islamic foods there, fire your bank and internet provider--when we call these companies-we ultimately call India!

All these bigots are supporting "those people" on a daily basis!!! LOL

[closethippy1]

A paranoid pro-Jewish blogger Pam Geller started tis nonsense see below:
"The controversial ad, which appeared earlier this month on the doughnut chain''''s Web site to promote its iced coffee, came under fire nearly two weeks ago when pro-Jewish blogger Pam Geller posted it under the headline "Rachel [sic] Ray: Dunkin Donuts Jihad Tool."

"Have you seen Rachel [sic] Ray wearing the icon of Yasser Arafatbastard and the bloody Islamic jihad," Geller wrote. "This is part of the cultural jihad."
Posted by zorar at 08:44 AM : May 29, 2008

Cultural jihad? Interesting because if anyone bought into this cultural jiahd is the Israelis. Go to any "Israeli restaurant" and you''ll see how 80% of their menu is Arabic food.
When you arrive to Israel you''re greeted by Israelis dressed in Arab folkoric clothing, including the scarf in question, as a way to make tourists feel welcome.
How ironic, eh?

[generey]

UM, they''''re kidding, right??? The level of stupidity and paranoia of some people never ceases to amaze me.


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Posted by Irishbrat66 at 08:45 AM : May 29, 2008


Ditto.

[pollroller1]

Oh no, say it ain''t so. Rachel Ray a terrorist. But she seems like such a nice person. And shame on you Dunkin Donuts.

[liberalme]

GOD "BLESS" AMERICA. NOT "G D" AMERICA.

Posted by crater7

REV WRIGHT LOVES HIS FOLLOWERS--AND CRATER IS #1

[marxbro2]

What I find disappointing is CBS headlining this article as "...Coffee Ad Stirs Terror Flap". It is the morons like Michelle Malkin (who are given this forum because they are right-wingers with big mouths?) who are creating the "terror flap".

[liberalme]

What I find disappointing is CBS headlining this article as "...Coffee Ad Stirs Terror Flap". It is the morons like Michelle Malkin (who are given this forum because they are right-wingers with big mouths?) who are creating the "terror flap".

Posted by marxbro2

Heck it''s been all over the news--I think its one of the funniest things Faux news has done---they just continue to out do themselves in stupidity!!

[briannorwood]

crater7:

And tell your cousin..er, I mean wife, I said hello.

[mediabrat60]

How ridiculous is this!?

Was there nothing more important or amusing to publish last night than garbage like this?!

SHEESH!!! Give me a break!

[inventagod2]

The Uber-Terrorists in the Cheney Gang won.
They got the USA to go completely brain-dead.

[louklou51]

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING! FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, PEOPLE, GET A GRIP,IT IS ONLY ADVERTISING! HEAVEN HELP US ALL.

[timdgrim]

This is flat A** ridiculous!
Michelle Malkin probably has Swastika laden scarfs in her closet! Right Wing Fear Mongers strike again.

[pollroller1]

Well, I don''t know about the rest of y''all, but I will never eat another one of Dunkin Donuts Partially Hydrogenated donuts again.

[fabrat1]

Wow we sure have gotten paranoid!