How a DC pizza chain got tossed into controversy over a dessert advertisement

[KARAH RUCKER]

A D-C-BASED PIZZA CHAIN IS APOLOGIZING FOR AND REMOVING A CONTROVERSIAL DESSERT REFERENCING THE LATE D-C MAYOR MARION BARRY.

[ACTIVIST]

NOT IN D-C, NOT IN D-C, NOT IN D-C.

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE APOLOGY COMES AFTER PROTESTS OUTSIDE THE STORE AND SOCIAL MEDIA BACKLASH FROM CRITICS WHO CLAIM IT TARNISHED BARRY’S LEGACY.

SOME COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WERE EVEN URGING PEOPLE TO BOYCOTT THE RESTAURANT.

[RONALD MOTEN]

I JUST WANT Y’ALL TO KNOW THAT I’M JUST AS UPSET AS YOU ALL ARE. TALK TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, MY INBOX HAS BEEN GOING OFF. PEOPLE BEEN CALLING ME. DMING ME, EVERYTHING. I’VE TALKED TO CORA MASTERS BARRY AND SHE IS VERY DEEPLY HURT AND SADDENED OF THE DISRESPECT THAT THIS GUY, THEY SPITTIN’ ON MARION BARRY’S GRAVE. SO, I JUST WANT YOU ALL TO KNOW THERE IS GOING TO BE A BOYCOTT. 

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE OWNER OF AND-PIZZA MIKE BURNS APOLOGIZED WEDNESDAY FOR THE PIZZA JOINT’S ADVERTISEMENT FOR A NEW DESSERT CALLED “MARION BERRY KNOTS” 

AND-PIZZA ADVERTISED THE MENU ITEM MONDAY USING SEVERAL DRUG REFERENCES LIKE QUOTE “THESE KNOTS WILL BLOW YOU AWAY.”

AND “OUR CLASSIC KNOTS GOT A BUMP.” AS WELL AS PICTURES OF POWDERED SUGAR ON GLASS MIRRORS.

THE ADVERTISING SEEMED TO REFERENCE BARRY’S ARREST DURING A VIDEOTAPED DRUG STING BY THE F-B-I…

WHERE HE FAMOUSLY ACCUSED HIS EX-GIRLFRIEND OF SETTING HIM UP.

THE ARREST OF THE FORMER FOUR-TERM MAYOR AND CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER LED TO A CONVICTION ON A CHARGE OF CRACK COCAINE POSSESSION AND HE WAS SENTENCED TO SIX MONTHS IN PRISON.

BURNS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING:

“CANDIDLY, WE MADE A MISTAKE. AND FOR THAT, WE SINCERELY APOLOGIZE. WE HEAR THE D-C COMMUNITY AND HAVE REMOVED MARION BERRY KNOTS FROM OUR MENU EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.”

BURNS SAID HE’S REACHING OUT TO COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED ANGER OVER THE DESSERT’S ADVERTISEMENT.

ADDING, “WE HAVE READ THE COUNTLESS MESSAGES AND SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS AND UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION THIS HAS BROUGHT FORTH– ESPECIALLY TO THE BARRY FAMILY. WE RECOGNIZE HIS IMPACT ON THE DISTRICT AND GREATER CAPITAL AREA AND UNDERSTAND WHY HIS LEGACY REMAINS AS STRONG AS IT IS TODAY.”

IT’S YET TO BE SEEN IF BURNS’ LETTER WILL LEAD ACTIVISTS TO A CHANGE OF HEART ABOUT PLANNED PROTESTS FOR FRIDAY.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.