Pizza Hut faces a social media backlash and a boycott campaign after its Israeli branch posted an advert mocking the mass Palestinian prisoner hunger strike.
Pizza Hut’s Israeli branch advertised an image showing Marwan El-Barghouti eating, with a message saying, ‘Barghouti, if you’re going to break a strike, why not pizza?’ prompting condemnation.
Marwan Barghouti is leading a mass Palestinian prisoner hunger strike. The photo released by Israeli prison authorities a few days ago shows Marwan Bargouti eating, reportedly from 2004 – according to The National Committee for the Freedom and Dignity Strike.
Pizza Hut turned the footage into an advertisement, photoshopped, and added a Pizza box under Barghouti’s bed.
The advert provoked a backlash on social media
Apology by actions not words @pizzahut close yr branches in illegal Israeli settlements, built on stolen Palestinian lands #Boycott_PizzaHut pic.twitter.com/akZfCJQRdt
— Samar Saeed/سمر سعيد (@Samarsaeed) May 9, 2017
I support the palestinian hunger strike and i #Boycott_pizzahut
— . (@lyyy223) May 8, 2017
#boycott_pizzahut Pizza Hut : Bargothy, if u want to suspend strike,why don't u have pizza better for u pic.twitter.com/KmLaFg5iku
— kh (@kholoudaw5) May 8, 2017
Pizza Hut Apologizes
The company apologized in both Arabic and English on social media. It has also terminated its contract with the advertising agency responsible for the Israeli branch.
In the apology post on its official Facebook page, Pizza Hut criticized the “offensive and disgusting” advert, saying, “Pizza Hut International apologizes for any offense caused by a recent post on Pizza Hut Israel’s Facebook page. It was completely inappropriate and did not reflect the values of our brand. The local franchisee in the country removed it immediately, and the relationship with the agency that posted it was terminated, and we truly regret any hurt this may have caused.”
Apology rejected!
People on social media extended their frustration with Pizza Hut and said that it’s not enough to apologize, action is required, shutdown in Israel, and we will stop the boycott campaign.
Will Pizza Hut make this bold move and comply with social media’s request to shut down its investment in Israel?
