Australian fried chicken restaurant ‘FAT Fried and Tasty’ are being ripped to shreds online for their apparently racist décor. The company decided it would be a good idea to photoshop a picture of Biggie Smalls eating a piece of fried chicken — pretty much one of the most textbook racial stereotypes you can think of.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153394807878450&set=a.10150257972263450.331461.505593449&type=3
Not only did they include that faux pas, but they also stuck up one of the vintage Aunt Jemima ads, which have been widely recognised for their stereotyping. And to top it all off, there is even a picture of white people holding shotguns. Needless to say, I’m pretty sure the interior designer ain’t going to be commissioned again any time soon.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153394807918450&set=a.10150257972263450.331461.505593449&type=3
Comedian Aamer Rahman was the first to call out the restaurant, after he posted the racial pictures on Facebook and twitter. He wrote:
Melbourne hipsters pay tribute to a dead black artist by opening a Biggie Smalls themed fried chicken restaurant, The Notorious FAT, complete with photoshopped mural of Biggie holding a fried chicken drumstick, Aunt Jemima wallpaper, and pictures of white families with guns.
You cannot make this stuff up.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10153394808018450&set=a.10150257972263450.331461.505593449&type=3
Obviously people are pretty angry about the whole thing, with some very scathing messages posted to the restaurant’s Facebook page. Owner John tried to alleviate some of the hate by sending out this message:
When my cousin Terrence and I took the plunge and decided to open our own restaurant last year our idea was to cook comfort food, and mix it with a bright, bold and fun experience for everyone who dined with us.
We brought Mum and Dad’s secret fried chicken recipe with us, chose the music we grew up with, and mixed it with retro decor and a Southern American theme.
It was that simple. We knew what we liked and wanted to share.
At no stage did we set out to upset anyone with our decor, and for those we have offended we apologise as it was never our intention for FAT to be anything but a great place to eat.
Yeah, a Southern American theme with bright bold imagery is fair enough — but I don’t think people want to be taken back to a world of lynching and bigotry you idiots. Not cool.
Anyway, it’s fair to say that this restaurant has dug a pretty deep grave for itself. I wonder if they will get vandalised by angry protestors like that cereal café?
