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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 )
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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: Shay on 5/23/2009 12:51PM
I read a few comments but there were too many to read all so forgive me if I am redundant. This whole thing (in my opinion) was KFC's fault not Oprah's. KFC approached Oprah about this deal and she agreed to do it. Yes, maybe she assumed they were prepared or maybe they told her they were prepared but KFC was not prepared. For several hours it printed those coupons that ended in 1234. I know b/c I got one. It was only later on that it began to assign each coupon a different number! It was wrong to turn away all of those 1234 people because KFC messed up. This screamed of poor planning all the way around. How could they not expect millions of people not to respond? They should have had a server and system that could handle the onslaught. The stores weren't prepared either. This promotion gave KFC a black eye rather than a boost in sales.
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By: Cheryl on 5/25/2009 12:23PM
I printed out these coupons also, when i took them to KFC, we had to fill out a paperand they stapled the coupon to the paper and said they would mail us a cupon to come back at a later time to redeam it.. Needless to say, ive not see a coupon or the free meal yet.
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By: Iris on 5/26/2009 10:02AM
Dishonesty ruins it for the honest people..The system copying coupon after coupon by the same person ruined it for the honest. KFC is great and they did try to help in this time of crisis. I take my hat off to them. Will continue eating there weekly...Why not say KFC thankyou for trying.
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By: yani on 5/26/2009 3:08PM
you dont have to wear gloves. as long as the hands are washed every half hour, gloves do not have to be worn. that follows every sanitation guidelines provided to every foodplace establishment today. so stop whining about them not wearing gloves
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By: Urbanprincess on 5/27/2009 8:44PM
Look yall, I went to KFC's and they told me to fill out a form and KFC would send me and my family free coupons. The manager of that KFC's didn't know when I would get my coupons in the mail? I wonder how long will this take? I am not complaining but I hope next time, if KFC has any other promotions in the future is to be more ORGANIZED and have their promotion run only 1 day to avoid scams, hackers, confusion, ect...
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By: Urbanpriness on 5/27/2009 8:46PM
I filled out my form for KFC to send me a coupon in the mail, May 18. So, I hope those coupons come in the mail quick.
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By: Shannon on 5/31/2009 12:11PM
There was this KFC around the corner from ma house and it was digusting. The resturant was never clean so it got shut down, that just goes to show you how nasty KFC is. I dont care what kind of chicken they put out ill never eat there again.
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