KFC publicity stunt ends in international incident

KFC publicity stunt ends in international incident
Tags: Chicken, Legal Issues, Mexican
October 27, 2009 - Christa Hoyland

KFC's latest publicity stunt involving the United Nations is just another example of the outrageous means Yum! Brands chains will take to get attention.

Last year, it was a public letter to rapper 50 Cent from Taco Bell asking him to change his name to 79, 89 or 99 Cent for a day to promote the chain's value menu. The rapper was not amused and filed a $4 million lawsuit for trademark infringement.

This spring, fellow Yum! Brands chain KFC paired up with Oprah Winfrey to promote its new grilled chicken, a public relations fiasco that overwhelmed under-prepared operators as consumers flocked to stores with a downloadable coupon for a free two-piece meal. The chain also wrote letters to select U.S. mayors offering to fill the cities' potholes in exchange for the opportunity to temporarily brand the streets. The offer drew critics' scorn and was turned down by several cities.

Last week, KFC sent a tongue-in-cheek letter to the U.N. asking for acceptance of the company's Grilled Nation — representing the 60 million people who have purchased its Kentucky Grilled Chicken — as its 193rd member country. The company also offered free samples of the grilled chicken across the street from U.N. headquarters to promote Monday's in-store free piece of grilled chicken event. The brand's Colonel Sanders' impersonator was on hand to greet visitors.

The promotion might have ended there, with the U.N. chastising the company for inappropriate use of its name for commercial purposes. But a U.N. security guard invited Bob Thompson, the Colonel's impersonator, inside for a tour and then allowed him access to Ali A. Treki of Libya, the General Assembly's president, according to a story by The Courier-Journal of Louisville, Ky.

Thompson told The Courier-Journal that the security guard took him around the U.N. headquarters for several photo opportunities, including one with Treki's family and one in the General Assembly's chamber.

Now, the U.N. is reviewing the incident as a security breach, which could lead to the guard being disciplined. And KFC is apologizing.

From The Courier-Journal:

KFC, part of Louisville-based Yum Brands, said Tuesday that the company hasn't heard from the U.N. about the incident — and hopes there are no hard feelings.

"KFC has the utmost respect for the United Nations, and this lighthearted event in New York City was in no way meant to undermine the important work that the U.N. does around the world," spokesman Rick Maynard said in an e-mail on Tuesday.