The PC brigade vs Dunkin Donuts

[gkmacca]

Dunkin Donuts tweet which caused offence to Liverpool FC fans

Dunkin Donuts has issued an apology for tweeting out an altered version of a Liverpool FC crest that upset many fans of the club.

The company, who are an official sponsor of the club, used their Twitter account to tweet out a alternative Liverpool crest which featured donuts and coffee.

The Shankly gates had been altered to contain the slogan, “America runs on Dunkin’”, the Liverbird had been replaced with a “DD” logo and the Hillsborough eternal flame was replaced with coffee cups.

The tweet read: “Love the LFC crest? Tweet us what you’d want on your personal crest and we might surprise you with your own!”

Many Liverpool fans reacted with anger and disbelief at the crass design and the company have moved quick to delete the tweet and apologise for any offence caused.

In a statement released on Wednesday night they said: “We apologize for any insensitivity regarding our tweet supporting an LFC-themed promotion featuring the LFC Crest.

“As a proud partner of LFC, we did not intend any offense, particularly to the Club’s supporters. We have removed the tweet and halted the campaign immediately.”

Liverpool signed a multi-million pound deal with the American company in January 2014 to become the club’s “official coffee, tea and bakery provider”.

 

[FoxForceFive]

Oh dear.

I don't see the point in making them out to be Satan for doing it, just massively uninformed & niave.

Whilst I wouldn't blame the company themselves so much (although some cursory research into the badge would have shown the meaning behind the flames quickly enough), some questions should be asked about exactly what we tell sponsors about the club & what we expect of them as well as the other way round.

I'm sure they make damn sure the club are aware what type of business they are & the reputation they expect of the club, that should be reciprocated.

 

[Judge Jules]

I couldn't agree more. We do need to get things right behind the scenes BUT such a reaction will, if it becomes widely known, (a) help perpetuate the accusation that Scousers are self-pitying and, in the process, (b) detract from things like the HJC. There are times when we (or some of us at any rate) do not help ourselves.

 

[FoxForceFive]

I couldn't agree more. We do need to get things right behind the scenes BUT such a reaction will, if it becomes widely known, (a) help perpetuate the accusation that Scousers are self-pitying and, in the process, (b) detract from things like the HJC. There are times when we (or some of us at any rate) do not help ourselves.

Exactly.

No one can truly believe it was meant to be spiteful so should perhaps be dealt with via email or similar from a fans group to the club (not publicly) explaining we'd like sponsors etc to be aware of what certain club symbols mean.

Nothing more is required.

 

[Brizzle]

So Dunkin Donuts started a twitter campaign about a personal crest (saying if we had a crest it would look like this) and a load of our fans have jumped on a bandwagon of "i cant believe they are replacing the eternal flame wtih a coffee cup" etc

To me this is mental - its a harmless marketing campaign. Would they rather the flame was kept in there? Fucking idiots IMO with nothing better to do.

 

[Brizzle]

I think groans of 'American company using our logo for corporate gain' etc etc is one ting and fair enough some people don't like the new world of money that surrounds the sport, but getting offended by coffee cups. Those complaining really aren't ready for the big bad world.

 

[Brizzle]

Maybe people thought that if they didnt complain or werent 'offended' then they wouldn't be considered a true fan?

Stuff like this gets on my tits.

 

[keniget]

People are dumb, whatchagonnado.

 

[Portly]

It's ironic that "The official coffee of Liverpool Football Club" isn't available at Anfield.

That's a shame because I am told that Dunkin' Donuts' coffee is very good!

 

[beejay]

There's almost a religious fervour about some of our fanbase, with a few fundamentalists who get worked up about anything even where innocent or trivial. Also known as RAWK-ism.

 

[FoxForceFive]

It's not available anywhere at all that I've ever been to!

I'm sure there's probably a couple of shops in that there London, but it is beyond ridiculous that you can't buy it anywhere near the club they sponsor.

 

[Jack D Rips]

Maybe its an age thing, and its certainly a personal opinion thing, but I didn't like their personal crest thing at all. I found it offensive.

 

[Brizzle]

Sorry for not seeing your thread Gary Macca!

 

[Portly]

Maybe its an age thing, and its certainly a personal opinion thing, but I didn't like their personal crest thing at all. I found it offensive.

I agree it was totally crass but it happened because Dunkin Donuts' marketing people didn't know any better. Now that they have apologised I think it's time to let the matter pass.

 

[Brizzle]

I quite liked the fact that a big name US brand is excited by its connection to our club.. I bet they'll go quiet for a bit now.

 

[hmmmmm1]

A storm in a twitter tea cup

 

[FoxForceFive]

A storm in a tweet cup.

 

[Leo]

Suppose that crest will keep the gays quiet.

 

[Rosco]

You have to be a humourless cunt to be upset by this

#JeSuisDunkin

 

[Oncy]

KFC have just started serving 'Seattles best coffee' and I must say its a decent cup.

Regarding the crest....doesnt even deserve mentioning.

 

[Rosco]

I've had the Dunkin coffee in the USA- I didnt get what the fuss was about.

 

[Farkmaster]

There isn't any fuss about Dunkin Donuts coffee. It's shit, batch brewed coffee. It's a cheap as shit last resort coffee, or an alternative to wasting money at starbucks for their similarly bad batch-brewed coffee.

 

[peterhague]

Unrelated coffee-based gripe: Cafe Nero don't even have whole milk on their premises. Not just they don't use it by default, but a fucking coffee shop doesn't have it in stock. How wrong is that?

 

[Frogfish]

Some naive marketing exec in the USA thought it would be an entertaining initiative, he/she knows better now. Nothing to it, end of story.

 

[Brizzle]

You'd think that someone at our club gave it a green light.. but even they probably didnt realise the number of saddos who support our club and hound accounts on twitter.

 

[cloggypop]

I have never bought anything from one of these chain coffee outlets. Rather go to a caff.

Everywhere here has good quality coffee anyway.

 

[ILD]

*Gets out of dodge, before the boring coffee snobs ruin things for everyone*

 

[cloggypop]

ILD drinks Mellow Birds out of a plastic camping beaker. He pours boiling water straight onto the coffee and uses CoffeeMate instead of milk.

 

[ILD]

*Wonders if I should inform the forum that I've never had a cup of coffee*

 

[Red Astaire]

What's their tea like?