Conservative Bloggers Link Rachael Ray Ad to Terror Symbolism

by Anne Landman — May 30, 2008 - 12:48pm
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Rachael Ray Dunkin Donuts ad featuring controversial scarfDunkin' Donuts pulled an online ad for frozen lattes featuring domestic maven Rachael Ray after receiving complaints from right-wing bloggers, including conservative FOX News commentator Michelle Malkin, that a black-and-white paisley scarf Ray wore in the ad too closely resembled a traditional Arab headdress called a kaffiyeh. Malkin wrote that the scarf resembled "a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos," and that "the apparel has been mainstreamed by both ignorant (and not-so-ignorant) fashion designers, celebrities and left-wing icons." Amahl Bishara, a lecturer in anthropology at the University of Chicago who specializes in media matters about the Middle East said, "Kaffiyehs are worn every day on the street by Palestinians and other people in the Middle East -- by people going to work, going to school, taking care of their families, and just trying to keep warm ... To reduce their meaning to support for terrorism has a tacit racist tone to it."

Main Source: 
Advertising Age, May 28, 2008

Comments

Dunkin' Terror

Submitted by alexanderm on June 4, 2008 - 9:52am.

alexander

This is truly awful. The black and white headdress, or keffeyeh, is an increasingly popular fashion item in Europe. The red and white one, used in the Gulf, similarly.

It's got nothing to do with terror. And the climbdown by Dunkin' Donuts has just electrified opinion in the Middle East, where DD has many franchised outlets - and which they didn't consider at all when they withdrew the ad.

Sectarianism begets sectarianism - but particularly when dumb corporates knee-jerk cravenly to the slightest sniff of criticism without bothering to in any way examine the source, validity and public reaction to that criticism.

She's wearing a scarf. She's not wearing a bomb belt. And if she were wearing a bomb belt, she'd hardly be toting a bloody shake, would she? The context is totally inappropriate to the criticism - from some pretty loony people, it has to be said.

Whatever. I'm glad that so many people will now choose not to consume this company's awful, unhealthy and over-processed products. The whole episode has appalled many moderates in the Middle East - let alone the more polarised fraternities. A neat own-goal, America...

Arafat is high in Calories

Submitted by Pani113 on May 31, 2008 - 4:31pm.

I work with fashion folks sometimes. They are bright, talented and alot less superficial than most people think. BUT, many are not political at all. I remember talking to someone who thought Ohio was in the Middle East. The person who gave her the scarf probably thinks Arafat is an overly rich dessert!

That's all well and good but

Submitted by the53rdcalypso on May 30, 2008 - 8:59pm.

That's all well and good but the truth of the matter is that Rachel Ray is a known terrorist and is hiding Osama Bin Laden: http://www.236.com/blog/w/katie_halper/rachel_ray_scarf_says_terroris_6809.php