There are times when it would be appropriate for a fast food chicken restaurant like KFC to remind people to pick up a bucket of chicken on a Facebook update. Sometime this Friday, April 20th, when certain segments of the population will get the munchies, for instance, would be quite opportune–and kind of funny.
But during the tsunami warnings last week after the massive earthquake in Indonesia when people were panicked and fearful for their lives? That would be ill-advised, and not quite so funny.
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During the warnings, KFC in Thailand posted the following Facebook update:
“Let's hurry home and follow the earthquake news. And don't forget to order your favorite KFC menu.”
They have since deleted the post and issued an apology, but the damage was done. According to Associated Press, angry web posts about the chain's Facebook update spread through Thailand. Even their mea culpa got a flood of angry responses.
Being called out as callously opportunistic, it turns out, isn't so finger-licking good.
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Before becoming an award-winning restaurant critic for OC Weekly in 2007, Edwin Goei went by the alias “elmomonster” on his blog Monster Munching, in which he once wrote a whole review in haiku.