Rachael Ray Wears Keffiyeh; Smears Dunkin' Donuts' 'America' Campaign
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.
I don't imagine Palestinian activist are very happy with the dilution and diminishment of their cotton symbol.
I thought it was a tablecloth Yasser Arafat stole from a cafe.
Thank heaven she wasn't wearing a toque or crochless unmentionables! (Is there anyway we can yank "celebrity chefs"?)
OMG! ca'nt digest the fact that we as americans..in an educated country where freedom of speech and expression is our priority are giving importance to a silly scarf! this is the making of a big deal over nothing!!!
Rachael looks fab in the scarf! i need to get one too!
ALL I CAN SAY IS 'LADY GET A LIFE,PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
I will have to agree with the public on this one, the lady commentator should "Get a Life" Until brought to my attention, I just thought it was a scarf, still do and I put no symbolism in what she is wearing. The Press again wins the "Flying Finger of Fate" award, showing us that they are still bored and looking for something to stir up.
How ridiculous of a society are we that we have to put some kind of terrorist meaning into every single thing that appears on tv. For Goodness sake, it's a scarf, would it have been different if she was wearing mittens to match it?
Does the New York Observer really have NOTHING better to report on then this crap?
This is the statement DD SHOULD have issued:
Because Michelle Malkin is so appallingly stupid and/or ignorant that it appears that she can’t tell the difference between a paisley scarf and a kiffiyeh, We are pulling our ad of Rachel Ray enjoying our iced coffee. We do hope that once Ms. Malkin extracts her head from between her own ass cheeks, she stops by one of our many establishments and samples one of our fine iced coffees, any one of which undoubtedly tastes much better than the crap that typically fills her mouth, via her brain, at any given time.
Like I give a flip about what Michelle Malkin says. She's another ignorant Con whose focusing on trivial issues and can't focus on any issues of substance. Get a life, Michelle!!
Stirring up trouble coupled with bad observation skills is irresponsible journalism. Ridiculous! Enough fluff to fill all those donuts!
DUNKIN SHOULD BE ASHAMED FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS IGNORANT DEBATE AND PUT RACHEL BACK ON THE AIR.
Millions of women every day knit scarfs with fringe, lovely patterns, multiple colors, a fashion statement. Some women choose beautiful fabrics and embellish them for the same purpose. We should beinsulted by this accusation. Arafat wore a tablecloth that looked like a flattened out soccer ball.
Now it's down to scarfs,,,I thought only the far lower left looked for stupid stuff to be upset about.
My dear woman I hope yours was a casual remark taken out of context.
We should be upset because we can't drill for oil in this country or off shore while we are looking at alternative fuels and power sources not at a silly remark about a scarf worn by a woman eating a donut.
I DON'T EVEN EAT THEIR DONUTS.
But Where’s the Hole?
A young woman name of Rachel Ray
appears on television day after day.
to show off all her cooking skills.
like chopping, frying, baking and using grills.
Her performances can be quite charming
though her exuberance is at times alarming.
When it seems she may bounce right off the screen
we assume she has imbibed too much caffeine.
Though she never seems to feel the heat
all that energy leaves her viewers beat.
So, while her tasty dishes they may very well crave
they prepare their dinners in the microwave.
She has the ability her audiences to divert
and has never been known anyone to hurt.
But now a blogger called Maglalang,
has attacked her with a peabrained harangue.
In a blog whose name is not worth mention
she brought a sinister fact to our attention.
That Miss Ray, in wearing a scarf with a Paisley design,
was blatantly announcing that her intent was malign.
While getting her knickers tied into a twist,
she proclaimed that Rachel must be a terrorist!
That something ominous lies behind that smile
with which she manages her audiences to beguile.
On learning that, to the calendar I had to quickly run
to make sure the date was not April one.
But no, we are in the month of May
when, it seems, bloggers as well as donkeys bray.
Is Maglalang telling us, so we will not cause a scare,
we must avoid Scottish Paisley patterns on what we wear?
But what about our scarves with Scottish plaids?
Will they strike terror into the neighbourhood lads?
One must allow that in one activity Rachel is at fault
and to which she immediately should call a halt.
She used her scarf for a company that urges us doughnuts to dunk
as if we did not already have enough food that’s junk.
How would company bosses react to such an idiot claim?
Surely they would not on Rachel lay the blame?
But Dunkin Donuts their ad were indeed quick to pull,
proving the hole is in their CEO’s skull.
The debate over whether it's a scarf or a keffiyeh is useless. Either way, what's offensive is the suspicion that a keffiyeh is a "symbol of terror and jihad." That's just incredibly racist.
The debate over whether it's a scarf or a keffiyeh is useless. Either way, what's offensive is the suspicion that a keffiyeh is a "symbol of terror and jihad." That's just incredibly racist.
... "Some women choose beautiful fabrics and embellish them for the same purpose."
Yes, and one such pattern is called, 'houndsooth'. Duh!
..." Arafat wore a tablecloth that looked like a flattened out soccer ball."
It was intended to be worn resembling the shape of Palestine.
"We should be upset because we can't drill for oil in this country or off shore..."
That's the misconception. Colorado and Alaska are considered vast areas of oil reserves (plus parts in Canada). Why aren't we using them instead of depleating the reserves in the Middle East and paying up the ying-yang for it?
I can imagine that if Ms. Ray was to wear a snood, Dunkin Donuts stock would have risen overnight!
But Ms Malkin is Republican. Oy gewalt!
... "Some women choose beautiful fabrics and embellish them for the same purpose."
Yes, and one such pattern is called, 'houndsooth'. Duh!
..." Arafat wore a tablecloth that looked like a flattened out soccer ball."
It was intended to be worn resembling the shape of Palestine.
"We should be upset because we can't drill for oil in this country or off shore..."
That's the misconception. Colorado and Alaska are considered vast areas of oil reserves (plus parts in Canada). Why aren't we using them instead of depleating the reserves in the Middle East and paying up the ying-yang for it?
I can imagine that if Ms. Ray was to wear a snood, Dunkin Donuts stock would have risen overnight!
But Ms Malken is Republican, no? Oy gewalt!
I don't know exactly where the kuffiyah originated, but it is found all over the Arab world (albeit the fringes) and worn by men. It has come to symbolize, or be associated with, the Palestinian Intifadeh some 20 years back (the topic of human rights and fighting for freedom/recognition is NOT the issue here, but it IS offensive to hear such things from 'the other side of the fence').
BTW, why isn't that "suspicion" carried to mainstream American college campuses (I've seen it worn as a fashion statement by European women too) where it is considered 'chic' (revolutionary activism). What IS the media REALLY afraid of? I thought it was a 'free press'. Huh.
I tried to find images of America's ruling family wearing scarves. Lo, and behold, George W. Bush's niece Lauren is spotted wearing a keffiyeh/kuffiyah:
http://www.kabobfest.com/2007/10/kuffiyah-kraze-spotting-george-w-bushs....
Don't anyone mention this to Malkin, though. I fear for her already fragile mental state.
I have been trying to find a response from Rachel Ray to this incident. It is an opportunity for her to speak out against bigotry. So far I have not been able to find her opinion about this, one way or another.
DD has displayed amazing cowardice and a willingness to offend millions of its potential customers who might be Muslim, olive-skinned, or simply enjoy patterned accesories.
Malkin reveals an ugly bigotry, paranoia, and poor math ability. As with any other group, terrorists may be one in a million among Muslims. Did Malkin start avoiding white guys after the Oklahoma City bombing? It would have been just as logical!
I have been trying to find a response from Rachel Ray to this incident. It is an opportunity for her to speak out against bigotry. So far I have not been able to find her opinion about this, one way or another.
DD has displayed amazing cowardice and a willingness to offend millions of its potential customers who might be Muslim, olive-skinned, or simply enjoy patterned accesories.
Malkin reveals an ugly bigotry, paranoia, and poor math ability. As with any other group, terrorists may be one in a million among Muslims. Did Malkin start avoiding white guys after the Oklahoma City bombing? It would have been just as logical!
more Islamophobia rearing it's retarded head from the "conservative sphere". I got an idea, since Arabs were the first people to BREW COFFEE why don't you fuckers at Dunkin Donuts stop selling coffee to appease these bigotted zealot retards, after all COFFEE is far more symbolic of Arabs and the Middle East than a patterned scarf worn by people fighting zionist eurotrash in their homeland.