Rachael Ray Wears Keffiyeh; Smears Dunkin' Donuts' 'America' Campaign

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By Irina Aleksander

May 28, 2008 | 5:48 p.m

Ray, unscarfed

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Thirty-minute-meals gal Rachael Ray, who is also the face of the "America Runs on Dunkin'" campaign, has offended America with her allegedly Palestinian fashion statement.

In a recently released ad, the chef appears wearing—gasp!—a black-and-white scarf that resembles a keffiyeh. This seemed to especially tick off Republican commentator Michelle Malkin, who wrote that the scarf "has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad." Malkin continued:

Popularized by Yasser Arafat and a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos, the apparel has been mainstreamed by both ignorant and not-so-ignorant fashion designers, celebrities, and left-wing icons.

But, according to a New York Times Style section article by Kibum Kim from Feb. 11, 2007, "Its newest wearers, who wrap it around the neck like a scarf, say they are less Fatah sympathizers than fashion party crashers."

The Boston Globe reports that the doughnut company has since taken the ad out of circulation, stating: "In a recent online ad, Rachael Ray is wearing a black-and-white silk scarf with a paisley design. It was selected by her stylist for the advertising shoot. Absolutely no symbolism was intended. However, given the possibility of misperception, we are no longer using the commercial."

Meanwhile, one almost expects a giant bonfire in McCarren Park where hundreds of hipsters will burn their keffiyehs now that they're associated with Ms Ray.