Behold the power of a free leg, thigh, two sides and a biscuit. Forget social injustice. You want to organize a sit-in? Try denying folks their right to free Kentucky fried...erm, um...I mean grilled chicken.
You see, yesterday Oprah offered coupons to all of her viewers that entitled them to one two piece grilled chicken meal. The offer is good from now until May 19th, 2009. First of all, the coupon server is way overloaded and it's damn near impossible to get the thing to download. And even if you managed that, as many did, not every franchise operator is down with Oprah's offer.
So leave it to the denizens of New York City to take their protest to the next level. According to eyewitnesses, folks staged a sit-in after being denied free grilled meat with sides. WTF?!? This aint a '50s lunch counter folks.
I went over to our nearest KFC a few minutes ago...and chaos ensued. Despite the very visible grilled chicken behind the register, the manager told everyone with coupons to leave and that the promotion was over for the day. The people there are currently holding a sit-in and refusing to leave until they get their free chicken .. .or the cops are called. Racial epithets were being spewed, people who actually wanted to pay for chicken were facing a potential beatdown, and the manager ran from the screaming horde. Oprah, what have ye wrought?Source: KFC's Refusal to Give Away Grilled Chicken Sparks Sit-In? Gothamist.com
So is this what we've come to? Can't get people to organize around the crisis of impoverished schools or our well funded, for-profit, out-of-control prison industrial complex, for example; but deprive people of their free two piece, or just delay it for a day, and all hell breaks loose.
Convince me I'm wrong. If you have some harrowing KFC coupon story to share, please tell it in the comments.
Gawker - KFC Coupon Riot Updates
+ Oprah Grilled Chicken: "You Get a Drumstick! You Get a Drumstick!"
Mel B Pictures
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl "Mel B" poses for a photo wearing a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness, after a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
In this undated image released by Oxfam Tuesday Sept. 23, 2008, British singer Mel B participates in the 'In My Name' global campaign calling for action against poverty and demanding world leaders keep their promises on millennium development goals. (AP Photo/Oxfam, HO) ** NO SALES **
AP
In this photo provided by Kraft Foods, Spice Girl Mel B, left, serves as the emcee at a fashion show and launch of "Pose for the Cure" web site to help Kraft Foods raise money for the 'Susan G. Komen for the Cure' fight against breast cancer in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008. Mel B wears a T-shirt she designed based on the classic pink ribbon used for breast cancer awareness. The shirt is for sale on the web site and the net proceeds will benefit the foundation. The woman at right is unidentified. (AP Photo/Kraft Foods, Ray Stubblebine) **NO SALES**
AP
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Ultimo Scottish designer lingerie brand founder Michelle Mone (L) and pop singer Melanie Brown pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard (R) pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown and singer Aubrey O'Day (R) poses backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
Getty Images
NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 09: Pop singer Melanie Brown, Olympic-level swimmer and model Amanda Beard, singer Aubrey O'Day and TV personality and designer Khloe Kardashian pose backstage at the Mel B With Ultimo Spring 2009 fashion show during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at the Metropolitan Pavilion on September 9, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Astrid Stawiarz/Getty Images )
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Comments: (757)
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By: barbie on 5/11/2009 1:43PM
You said, "you white people will have to pay reparations" Just as I knew it, you all are always looking for a handout and not wanting to work for what you get!!
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By: patsy on 5/06/2009 6:02PM
The line was long, and as I waited I noticed that NONE OF THE EMPLOYEES WHO SERVED THE FOOD WERE WEARING PLASTIC GLOVES!!! When the gravy slopped over the mashed potatoes, the person cleaned it up with his finger. I had never been in that particular KFC location before and I wonder if that is the common practice NOT TO WEAR GLOVES.
Needless to say, free or not, I left the store.
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By: anon on 5/07/2009 12:37AM
umm hardly any fast food places use gloves....
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By: blackwell on 5/07/2009 8:21PM
Wearing gloves is a false sense of sanitation.
true sanitation comes with regular handwashing.
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By: me on 5/07/2009 11:15PM
you do not have to wear gloves when packing a plated meal thats what tongs are for. you only have to wear gloves if you come in direct contact with food ex. sandwiches
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By: Jackie Cox on 5/07/2009 8:34PM
I live in Anderson, In. We only have two KFC's and both refused my coupon. The first one said because the last 4 numbers were 1234 that it was a fake. I stated that I had printed it off of the Oprah.com. They still would not accept it. The second KFC stated that all franchises would not accept bar code numbers of 1234 and would have to be redeemed at a Corporate KFC. In which we have none in my town.
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By: z on 5/07/2009 8:36PM
i think you need to stop eating out altogether as that type of thing happens at ALL food establishments, buffets are the worst,
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By: vegetarian on 5/07/2009 10:02PM
Um, if you think employees not wearing gloves are bad, try going to peta.org and watching Beau Arthur's video speaking out against KFC and see what people are doing to your chicken before it even reaches the store!
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By: Chicken Nazi on 5/07/2009 10:23PM
No Grilled Chicken for youuuu!! You come back 1 week.
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By: William Smith on 5/07/2009 10:41PM
Why is Oprah promoting a high fat diet and fast food restaurant?
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