Dunkin Donuts Pulls Ad Featuring Rachael Ray in 'Arab Scarf'

by Jarrett Martineau | May 28, 2008 at 08:50 am

4718 views | 11 Recommendations | 48 comments

What is it with the unending love for the keffiyeh as de-politicized aesthetic fashion flare?

Dunkin Donuts should have pulled this ad, but not because of pressure from conservative bloggers.

This ad deserved to be pulled because once Rachael Ray is seen sporting a keffiyeh you know that this year-and-a-half-old microtrend and formerly ubiquitous hipster accessory is officially dead in the water.

Remember when the Gap started selling cargo pants that zipped into shorts? This is what I'm talking about.

Ray's stylist needs to dig a little further than Urban Outfitters' "anti-war woven scarves".

Enough already!

Dunkin Donuts has pulled a commercial featuring pitchwoman Rachael Ray wearing a scarf because Michelle Malkin and other conservative observers thought the scarf looked too much like a keffiyeh, what Malkin describes as "the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad."

The Boston Globe reports that Dunkin Donuts caved to pressure from the conservative blogosphere — and the fear of a mass boycott — and removed the ad:

The company at first pooh-poohed the complaints, claiming the black-and-white wrap was not a keffiyeh. But the right-wing drumbeat on the blogosphere continued and by yesterday, Dunkin' Donuts decided it'd be easier just to yank the ad.

Said the suits in a statement: ''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.''

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Jordan Yerman

at 11:22 on May 28th, 2008

But someone needs to be the first to release a statement that says, "stop squawking- it's just a scarf".

cynthia yoo

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 13:17 on May 28th, 2008

Yeah, the hipster de-politicization of the keffiyeh really irritates people who care about the issues.

jessiedoll61

at 13:51 on May 28th, 2008

this is my husband- we were on our honeymoon in chicago!

jessiedoll61 has contributed a photo to this story.

loolykinns

at 14:29 on May 28th, 2008

WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!

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rocknrollgeek

at 14:56 on May 28th, 2008

Outside a Dunkin Donuts location in Delray Beach, FL

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amangla007

at 16:45 on May 28th, 2008

Outside a Dunkin' Donuts in Center City, Philadelphia. Philadelphia has been rated among the "fattest" cities in America. It is also among the worst crime cities in the country. I don't think Dunkin' Donuts is helping either cause.

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octette_stars

at 16:43 on May 28th, 2008

srsly, it is just a scarf. it is, in fact, a very nice looking scarf.

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filippistfu

at 17:15 on May 28th, 2008

that's mee :D

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Bibinka

at 18:25 on May 28th, 2008

What better way to greet a summer day than with a free cup of iced coffee from Dunkin Donuts! yummy! (14th & Irving Place, NYC)

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Jennings David L

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 19:12 on May 28th, 2008

Good report, it will soon be difficult to air any ad without offending someone.

larissa Pugaciov

at 19:12 on May 28th, 2008

çijagljçgeljagbveaçiefguavap7yfaçafgafaaç8tea

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StephyRocks

at 19:14 on May 28th, 2008

Enjoy my photo =).

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Brady Dorman

at 20:00 on May 28th, 2008

Dunkin' Donuts at Congress & Dearborn in downtown Chicago

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AJFeuerman

at 20:02 on May 28th, 2008

We could hardly wait to get to the Dunkin' Donuts on our way to Vegas!

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Bob Carson

at 20:12 on May 28th, 2008

I enjoyed your article. Only the lunatic fringe would think that the scarf bares resemblance to what Arafat wore. Keith Olbermann sounded off on this issue.

The right in this country share similar ideology to that of the terrorists. Only a xenophobe would object to this add.

bgregus

at 20:22 on May 28th, 2008

I hadn't had Dunkin Donuts since I was a kid. Of course we had to stop when we happened upon one in Vegas.

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Krob

at 21:15 on May 28th, 2008

Just one of many, many Dunkin' Donut shops in Cambridge, MA

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azzayindia

flagged this story as Good Stuff

at 21:25 on May 28th, 2008

Jarrett Martineau, I like this story. It's good stuff.

leoxxck

at 21:53 on May 28th, 2008

hummm donuts :)
great tea time this day!! hahaha

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douglas martin

at 21:56 on May 28th, 2008

granted, the whole "keffiyeh craze" is over and done with [although i still wear mine, admittedly and obviously], i think the entire political debate over whether or not it de-politicizes the origin of the scarf is something the conservatives should have been arguing about when that guy from the libertines wore one some six years ago.

in this day an age, no fashion is particularly shocking, unless someone decided to wear a KKK hood in public.

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