Oprah’s free chicken coupon led to a Kentucky Fried throwdown this week. The Des Moines Register reported a “large, middle aged woman” hollered profanity and spat on the arm of the employee who turned down her free two-piece grilled chicken meal coupon on Tuesday.
Oprah’s threw her unweildy star power behind KFC’s newest venture and the response overwhelmed both Oprah.com and Kentucky Fried Chicken, who couldn’t meet the demands of the salivating hordes. New York magazine chronicled the agony and the estacy of customers. Some felt discriminated against because they used Linux and couldn’t download the coupon (they’re people too, O), or are Canadian (no freebies for O Canada). Others pleaded that they needed the nearly unattainable free chicken to feed their children.
Drop in at KFC.com and you’ll understand the excitement. The website features happy chicken lovers two-fisting pieces of un-fried poultry while doing the “mix it in your bucket” dance. After redeeming millions of coupons, the company had to call a chicken hiatus and issued an apology and rain checks until chicken supply meets chicken demand.