Restaurant under fire for 'Robert Kraft' sandwich: 'Human Trafficking should not be taken lightly'
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que has come under fire for social media posts in which it advertised a limited menu item it called the “Robert Kraft” sandwich, which poked fun at the involvement of the owner of the New England Patriots in an alleged prostitution and human-trafficking operation.
The company’s restaurant in Syracuse, N.Y., attracted a backlash after posting the offer on its official Facebook and Twitter feeds saying that purchases would benefit the local McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center.
“This week only stop into the Syracuse Dinosaur to get a ‘Robert Kraft’ aka the Jerked and Pulled Chicken Sandwich,” since-deleted posts on the barbecue restaurant’s Facebook and Twitter feeds read on Sunday. “We will be donating a percentage of proceeds to the McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center.”
According to Syracuse.com, responses to the restaurant’s posts included, “I hope the [person responsible] is getting fired” and a customer who threatened not to use Dinosaur Bar-B-Que for an upcoming catered event.
But the most important response was the one from the child advocacy center indirectly involved, saying that it would not be accepting the alleged donations.
“Human Trafficking should not be taken lightly,” the organization’s statement read. “This post does not honor or support the victims of Mr. Kraft and at no time should victims be made to feel as if they are a pun to a joke.”
Kraft was charged with solicitation of prostitution in Florida on Friday, after his name appeared on a list of 25 individuals connected to a prostitution and human trafficking ring.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que didn’t immediately respond to Yahoo Lifestyle’s request for comment. However, a rep told Syracuse.com, “It was a joke that we didn’t completely think through. We apologize to anyone who was offended from the human trafficking aspect.”
On Monday, McMahon/Ryan Child Advocacy Center released a statement saying that it had spoken with the owner of the restaurant chain to ensure that they work together to make the situation right.
“In times such as this, it becomes pivotal how important eduction and awereness [sic] are,” the organization wrote.
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