Adrian Peterson fallout over "spanking joke"

MINNEAPOLIS - A restaurant in Mankato, Minn. drew criticism after telling customers on Facebook that if they came in wearing an Adrian Peterson jersey, they could spank their server.

Oh, we get it.

The restaurant Weggy's On Campus posted the note on Sunday, as the NFL's Minnesota Vikings played the New England Patriots, CBS affiliate KEYC-TV reported.

The post aimed to make light of the ongoing controversy over allegations of child abuse against the Vikings' running back, who admitted to authorities that he spanked his 4-year-old son with a switch. Peterson was deactivated for Sunday's game, which the Vikings lost 30-7, and was subsequently reinstated by the team.

Steve Wegman, the owner of Weggy's, told KEYC the post was "a bad joke gone awry." The restaurant caters to college students near the Minnesota State University, Mankato campus.

After the post went up, it was quickly removed.

Still, it got noticed.

"Child abuse is never funny," wrote Misti Wilmes‎ on Weggy's Facebook page.

Another commenter on the restaurant's page also failed to see the humor.

"Way to perpetuate violence and sexual harassment," Chelsea Kocina wrote, adding: "Never will I step foot in there and never will I encourage others to do so regardless of their gender. Shame on you. Absolutely disgusting."

On the same day the post went up, Weggy's issued an apology, saying an employee "simply thought they were being funny."

Wegman told KEYC that the restaurant has since changed its social media policy.

He also said that the employee who wrote the post will not face immediate consequences.