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Fashion Label Kenneth Cole Misfires With Egypt Tweet

It hijacks Cairo hashtag to promote its new spring line

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff | Suggested by bluephoenixnyc

Posted Feb 3, 2011 3:00 PM CST

(Newser) – And the day's award for corporate insensitivity goes to: Kenneth Cole. The high-end fashion label used the #Cairo hashtag—which the rest of the world is using to follow the protests— to get some publicity for its spring collection. "Millions are in uproar in #Cairo," read the now-deleted tweet. "Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available." This did not go over well, even generating at least one call for a boycott, notes AOL News.

All of which led to a mea culpa from Cole himself, notes Forbes: “I apologize to everyone who was offended by my insensitive tweet about the situation in Egypt. I’ve dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues, and in hindsight my attempt at humor regarding a nation liberating themselves against oppression was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate." Click for reactions on Twitter.

A Tweet from Kenneth Cole's official feed.
A Tweet from Kenneth Cole's official feed.   (Twitter)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 14 comments
Cannibal_Karl
Feb 4, 2011 1:38 AM CST
yea this smells like a publicity stunt to me.
LK789
Feb 3, 2011 11:26 PM CST
Brilliant! The world needs more humor, especially in these darkest of times. :)
Riffran
Feb 3, 2011 9:02 PM CST
Lol
 

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