{"id":117713,"date":"2024-10-24T05:50:48","date_gmt":"2024-10-23T22:50:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117713"},"modified":"2024-10-24T05:50:48","modified_gmt":"2024-10-23T22:50:48","slug":"dc-pizza-chain-apologizes-for-cocaine-themed-dessert-referencing-marion-barry","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117713","title":{"rendered":"DC pizza chain apologizes for cocaine-themed dessert referencing Marion Barry"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<\/p>\n<p>Outrage continues to grow after &amp;pizza, a restaurant chain with several locations in the District, created a menu item that seems to mocks the late D.C. Mayor Marion Barry.<\/p>\n<div id=\"Entry-content\">\n<div class=\"paragraph-with-figure\">\n<figure class=\"article_featured_image right\" data-fancybox=\"\" data-src=\"#modal-post-featured-image\">\n                            <span class=\"zoom_icon\"\/><br \/>\n                            <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pizza-backlash-480x320.jpg\"\/><figcaption>Protesters gathered outside an &amp;pizza location on Oct. 23, 2024, after the D.C. chain released a cocaine-themed dessert that referenced the late Mayor Marion Barry.(WTOP\/Nick Iannelli)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div id=\"modal-post-featured-image\" class=\"reveal-modal\" style=\"display:none;\" data-reveal=\"\" aria-labelledby=\"modalTitle\" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"dialog\">\n<figure class=\"article_featured_image modal\">\n                                <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/pizza-backlash-780x520.jpg\"\/><figcaption>Protesters gathered outside an &amp;pizza location on Oct. 23, 2024, after the D.C. chain released a cocaine-themed dessert that referenced the late Mayor Marion Barry.(WTOP\/Nick Iannelli)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The owner of a D.C.-based pizza chain is apologizing for creating <a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/local\/2024\/10\/pizzas-marion-berry-knots-dessert-promotion-draws-criticism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">a controversial menu item that references<\/a> the late D.C. Mayor Marion Barry amid growing outrage from critics who say it mocks his memory.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mike Burns, the CEO and owner of &amp;pizza, apologized Wednesday afternoon for the company\u2019s new dessert called<a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/local\/2024\/10\/pizzas-marion-berry-knots-dessert-promotion-draws-criticism\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> \u201cMarion Berry Knots,\u201d<\/a> which seemed to allude to Barry\u2019s conviction on drug-related charges.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cCandidly, we made a mistake. And for that, we sincerely apologize. We hear the D.C. community and have removed the Marion Berry Knots from our menu effective immediately,\u201d Burns wrote in a letter addressed to D.C.<\/p>\n<p>That letter comes after protesters gathered earlier Wednesday outside &amp;pizza\u2019s location along U Street in Northwest, D.C., many of whom called for a boycott of the company and demanded an apology.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re not going to tolerate this,\u201d said activist Ron Moten. \u201cWhile he\u2019s buried in the ground, people continue to spit on his grave.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The menu offering was pieces of dough covered with powdered sugar.<\/p>\n<p>Advertisements for the dessert make the powdered sugar look like cocaine sealed in tiny plastic bags, appearing to reference Barry\u2019s infamous drug arrest from the 1990s, when he was caught smoking crack in an FBI sting operation.<\/p>\n<p>The ads include lines with references to cocaine use such as, \u201cEnough powder for you and a few friends\u201d and \u201cOur classic knots got a bump.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile humor was our intent, it was regrettably off the mark. We\u2019re an edgy brand known for<br \/>being risk takers. The parody of the former Mayor and portrayal of substance abuse was<br \/>wrong,\u201d Burns wrote Wednesday afternoon in response to critics.<\/p>\n<h2>\u2018A storm is coming,\u2019 Protesters condemn chain for mocking former mayor<\/h2>\n<p>Supporters of Barry argued that focusing on his arrest is unfair, pointing to his legacy of creating the D.C. summer youth employment program back in 1979, which continues to this day and helps young people find jobs and training.<\/p>\n<p>Among those who called for the pastries to be discontinued and for the company to apologize was Terry Lynch, executive director of the Downtown Cluster of Congregations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"xxmsonormal\">\u201cMayor Barry had many achievements, as well as failures as do most of us,\u201d he said. \u201cBut it is simply wrong years after his death, to seek to profit off of his shortcomings. Mayor Barry earned the right to rest in peace \u2014 this insensitive campaign is an insult to his memory, his family and the community,\u201d Lynch said.<\/p>\n<p>One of the speakers at Wednesday\u2019s protest was D.C. Council member Trayon White, who is tied up in his own legal trouble as he <a href=\"http:\/\/wtop.com\/dc\/2024\/09\/dc-councilman-trayon-white-appears-in-court-after-indictment-on-bribery-charge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">fights a federal bribery charge<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe stand in solidarity against &amp;pizza,\u201d White said. \u201cWe\u2019re going to shut your ass down.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Burns said the company is reaching out to leaders who have spoken out against the dessert.<\/p>\n<p>Speakers called for an aggressive protest to take place 7 p.m. Friday night at &amp;Pizza\u2019s U Street location.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe need at least 1,000 people out here,\u201d Moten said prior to the pizza company\u2019s apology. \u201cThis Friday, this place will never be the same, I\u2019ll tell you this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA storm is coming, a storm you aren\u2019t ready for,\u201d said another D.C. activist, E.Z. Street. \u201cYou messed with the wrong ones this time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Those calls for protests came before the company\u2019s apology Wednesday and it\u2019s unclear whether Burns\u2019 letter will impact any plans to gather.<\/p>\n<p>When D.C. police were asked about the possibility of protests, the department said it \u201crespects everyone\u2019s right to protest and assembly.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe routinely ensure the safety of First Amendment demonstrators, and handle thousands of protests each year. We will not tolerate any unlawful behavior and will hold anyone who commits a criminal act responsible,\u201d police wrote in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n<p>In addition to D.C., &amp;pizza has locations in Maryland, Virginia, Philadelphia and New Jersey.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have read the countless messages and social media posts and understand the<br \/>frustration this has brought forth \u2014 especially to the Barry family. We recognize his impact on<br \/>the District and greater Capital area and understand why his legacy remains as strong as it is<br \/>today,\u201d Burns wrote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"single-page__signature bottom\"><em style=\"font-size:16px;font-weight:600;\">Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up <a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/newsletter-signup\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"single-page__signature bottom\">\u00a9 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"fluid\"\r\n     data-ad-layout-key=\"-fb+5w+4e-db+86\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-3711241968723425\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"7910942971\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><div data-type=\"_mgwidget\" data-widget-id=\"1660802\">\r\n<\/div>\r\n<script>(function(w,q){w[q]=w[q]||[];w[q].push([\"_mgc.load\"])})(window,\"_mgq\");\r\n<\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/wtop.com\/local\/2024\/10\/dc-pizza-chain-apologizes-for-cocaine-themed-dessert-referencing-late-mayor\/\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Outrage continues to grow after &amp;pizza, a restaurant chain with several locations in the District, created a menu item that seems to mocks the late D.C. Mayor Marion Barry. Protesters &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/?p=117713\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8629],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-117713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-u-s","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117713","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=117713"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/117713\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=117713"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=117713"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hotvideos24.online\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=117713"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}