A UK branch of Krispy Kreme has been forced to drop its promotion for “KKK Wednesdays” – Krispy Kreme Klub Wednesdays – after a series of complaints.
The Hull branch of the doughnut chain had posted an advertisement for the event on its Facebook page.
KKK Wednesdays was to be part of the doughnut shop’s half-term activities – a series of planned events for children during a week-long break from school.
The Facebook post had been removed by Tuesday afternoon, after users pointed out that KKK is also an abbreviation for the Ku Klux Klan.
“Krispy Kreme apologises unreservedly for the inappropriate name of a customer promotion at one of our stores,” a spokeswoman for Krispy Kreme told the Guardian.
“This promotion was never intended to cause offence. All material has been withdrawn and an internal investigation is currently underway.”
The Hull Daily Mail quoted a spokeswoman from the Hull branch of Krispy Kreme who said KKK Wednesdays would go ahead, but under a different name.
“This was sent from head office so it has been advertised at all the outlets,” the spokeswoman said.
The Southern Poverty Law Center civil rights organisation regards the Ku Klux Klan as the “most infamous” of American hate groups.
“Although black Americans have typically been the Klan’s primary target, it also has attacked Jews, immigrants, gays and lesbians and, until recently, Catholics,” the SPLC said.
The KKK started as a vigilante group to intimidate African Americans and perpetrated a litany of violent attacks through the late 1800s and early to mid-1900s. As late as the 1960s the KKK was committing bombings and murders in the US south.
Other planned activities at the Hull Krispy Kreme this week include Colouring Tuesday and Face Painting Thursday.
