German KFC Excoriated for 'Absolutely Hideous' Chicken Promo on Anniversary of Kristallnacht

November 10 marks the 84th anniversary of Kristallnacht, or the ‘Night of Broken Glass,’ when Nazi-incited mass riots in Germany left over ninety Jews dead and over 7,500 Jewish businesses ransacked and looted. Those events are often pointed to as the start of the Holocaust, where more than 6 million Jews were murdered under Nazi orders.

The German branch of the Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) fast-food chain has found itself under fire over what was slammed as a “hideous” marketing blunder.

“It's memorial day for Kristallnacht! Treat yourself with more tender cheese on your crispy chicken. Now at KFCheese!” the push notification message to customers on the anniversary of Kristallnacht reportedly read.

The Nazi Kristallnacht took place on November 10, 1938, and is often seen as the start of the Holocaust. At the time, mobs of Germans and Austrians looted and torched Jewish businesses, houses, and synagogues, leaving over ninety Jews killed.

In a successful attempt to outdo Brewdog in the “Worst Marketing Blunder of the month” stakes, KFC Germany reportedly sent out a push notification offering customers special chicken deals for Kristallnacht, before sending out another message apologising. Absolutely hideous. pic.twitter.com/mRgvA0euEY

— Daniel Sugarman (@Daniel_Sugarman) November 9, 2022

Just sent by a former colleague. Please tell me this isn’t real?

"its memorial day for kristalnacht! treat yourself with more tender cheese on your crispy chicken" pic.twitter.com/iZYwUiSkXG

— Sam Sokol | Mastadon: @[e-mail] (@SamuelSokol) November 9, 2022

As outrage flooded the internet, with users reposting screenshots of the promotional message, the chain rushed to apologize, its eagerness to undo the damage reflected in an all-caps message stating, “SORRY WE MADE A MISTAKE.” Deflecting blame, the company faulted a “a bug in our system” for the marketing debacle.

Despite the U-turn, the KFC chain was denounced on social media for its “absolutely hideous” promo by Daniel Sugarman, director of public affairs for the Board of Deputies of British Jews.

Wow, just wow! I am utterly speechless and repulsed! @kfc Germany puts out promotional campaign inviting customers to treat themselves on #Kristallnacht … with some “crispy chicken with tender cheese.”

You can’t make this up! pic.twitter.com/dvKTUvo3wv

— Arsen Ostrovsky (@Ostrov_A) November 9, 2022

The head of the pro-Israel legal group International Legal Forum, Arsen Ostrovsky, tweeted that he was “utterly speechless and repulsed.”

Dalia Grinfield, associate director of European affairs at the Jewish NGO Anti-Defamation League, tweeted, “Shame on you!”

Wie daneben kann man eigentlich sein an #Reichspogromnacht, @KFCDeutschland (@kfc )?! Schämt euch! https://t.co/nJvE15Nn0X

— Dalia Grinfeld (@DaliaGrinfeld) November 9, 2022

In a subsequent statement for the press, the KFC German chain explained that they "use a semi-automated content creation process linked to calendars that include national observances. In this instance, our internal review process was not properly followed, resulting in a non-approved notification being shared."

KFC Germany acknowledged that they "suspended app communications while we examine our current process to ensure such an issue does not occur again."

"We understand and respect the gravity and history of this day, and remain committed to equity, inclusion and belonging for all,” the company added.