Fast food chain KFC messaged customers in Germany encouraging them to “treat” [themselves]” to the restaurant’s food on the occasion of the anniversary of Kristallnacht, the coordinated anti-Jewish attacks by the Nazi party many consider to be the beginning of the Holocaust.
Customers in Germany were shocked to receive the push notification from the fast food restaurant yesterday, on the anniversary of the 1938 attacks when Nazis orchestrated and carried out the destruction of thousands of Jewish homes, businesses and schools, killing dozens and sending 30,000 people to concentration camps.
The KFC promotion read: “It’s Remembrance Day for [Kristallnacht]! Treat yourself to some tender cheese on your crispy chicken. Now at KFCheese!”
An hour later a second message came, according to the BBCapologized for the Kristallnacht promotion with a promise to “check” [KFC’s] internal process immediately.”
In a statement to News week, KFC blamed the first abusive warning on a “semi-automatic content creation process” tied to a calendar of national holidays and celebrations.
“In this case, our internal review process was not properly followed, resulting in an unapproved report being shared,” the company said. news week, adding that it had interrupted app communication and would review processes to ensure this doesn’t happen again. KFC did not immediately provide an on-the-record response to questions sent by The edge.
On Wednesday, new images of the violent attacks were released on the occasion of the 84th anniversary of Kristallnacht. While KFC says the promotion was an accident, it begs the question of why brands think we want to hear from them on every holiday or anniversary to begin with.
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