Free Chicken from KFC ... Again?

I'm sure you've heard of the "Free Chicken" promotion that Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) had a few months back. You remember... the talk show host, Oprah Winfrey, offered coupons for free chicken at KFC. Free chicken for everyone. Now that is a freebie that was hard to resist. According to BNet.com, the promotion caused a 1960's style sit-in at a Manhattan, NY KFC restaurant and raised issues regarding racism and using African-Americans to sell chicken. The promotion was so popular, the NY restaurant's management refused to honor the free chicken coupons. The crowd refused to leave until they received their free chicken and the situation got tense. Making the matter even more intriguing, branding experts began to raise the questions regarding the continued use of African-Americans by chicken-oriented restaurant chains.

Well hold on to your hats because KFC is doing it again. You heard me right!!! KFC is giving away more free chicken. But this time, they are limiting the free chicken to one piece per person and the promotion is only good for Monday, October 26th. Additionally, they have stated that the free chicken freebie is restricted to the manager's selection of grilled chicken only. These details are delicately displayed right on the homepage of their website... at the bottom... in light grey print. One can only hope that the food chain has learned their lessons from the previous freebie promotion and have their act together this time. I haven't seen the KFC freebie TV commercial, but I'd be willing to guess that they aren't using any African-American celebs to push the Free KFC Chicken promotion. The national TV ad available on their KFC Promo webpage has a variety of American ethnicities, but celebs and doesn't mention the "Free Chicken" promotion.

So, let's just sit back and see how this grilled chicken freebie plays out. Their website also stated that the free chicken promotion is only valid at participating KFC restaurants. I guess that means that they are giving themselves some wiggle room. I do hope that KFC is smart enough not to limit the freebie promotion to certain areas of the country. If all of the KFC restaurants in the African-American neighborhoods decide not to participate in the Free Chicken promotion, they just may have another riot on their hands!!! I've suspected that in the past some companies have avoided honoring promotions in their urban area stores, but THAT tactic would truly backfire if KFC goes that route!