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Burger King UK Tweets That ‘Women Belong In The Kitchen’ On International Women’s Day
While everyone was congratulating women on International Women’s Day, Burger King UK decided to do something different. In what appears to have been a desperate attempt to get exposure, the fast-food chain tweeted that “Women belong in the kitchen.”
The message was meant to inform about a new initiative Burger King has launched to help increase the number of women in head-chef roles. But people weren’t buying it.
Many Twitter users said the company’s initial tweet (which was followed in a thread by an explanation of the initiative) was tone-deaf. Some even vowed to not eat at the chain anymore.
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Global Chief Marketing Officer at Burger King’s parent company, Fer Machado, said on Twitter the company is “indeed sorry” about how the tweet in question came across. “The intention behind the activity is actually good. Taking it down would give even more attention to it. Believe it or not, I deeply care about doing the right thing. Will do better next time,” he said.
The tweet was followed by a couple of messages, explaining the initiative it was meant to promote
Image credits: BurgerKingUK
Following the backlash, the company told Insider in an emailed statement that, “Our tweet in the UK today was designed to draw attention to the fact that only a small percentage of chefs and head chefs are women.”
“It was our mistake to not include the full explanation in our initial tweet and have adjusted our activity moving forward because we’re sure that when people read the entirety of our commitment, they will share our belief in this important opportunity.”
People and companies immediately thought it was a mistake
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In its statement, the company stressed it is committed to helping women break through the male-dominated culinary culture in the world’s fine dining restaurants. The fast-food giant said it is doing this by creating the Burger King Helping Equalize Restaurants, or HER, scholarship to support employees pursue a degree in culinary arts.
The slogan even made it to print
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“This is a start in doing our small part to help women in the culinary field achieve their ultimate goal,” the company said in the press release, adding that women occupy only 7% of head-chef positions in restaurants.
Eventually, the backlash got so big, Burger King realized they might have been in the wrong
Image credits: BurgerKingUK
Image credits: BurgerKingUK
Speaking to Fast Company, Machado said that social engagement is something the brand typically does very well and puts a lot of thought into. “We don’t force-fit executions into different media. We always try to take into consideration what works well in each specific medium and make sure the asset is tailored for that use. In this specific case, we agree, it could have been done better. Hopefully, people will be able to see thru it and understand the real intention behind the activity we are doing.”
When asked if he would do it differently given the chance, Machado said, “The roll out plan in some other markets, like the U.S., was already different. But we are surely taking a second look into it so that our intention is better reflected [in] the way we execute. We are always learning here and trying to do better.”
But people think it’s already too late and the damage is done
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N G 4 years ago
The only time "women belong in the kitchen" is acceptable is when it's followed immediately by "men belong in the kitchen. Everyone belongs in the kitchen. That's where the food is". ANYTHING else - especially when it's split over multiple tweets where context is obliterated, is a bad move.
Erin 4 years ago
I actually found this pretty funny at first, in a "Who the hell would think this was a good idea to tweet?" kind of way.
Jane Doe 4 years ago
Ooh, yeah, like watching a fail video, and thinking, “wait for it.”
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Raven Sheridan 4 years ago
Obviously they didn't have a woman on their marketing team, because if they did there's no way in hell that that comment would have gone out into the world. They may have meant it to reflect something else, but it's a total fail! Burger King, stop digging yourselves in deeper. 🤦♀️
Paul Davis 4 years ago
yeah from looking at their upper management I wonder how far down the ladder you do have to go before you find any women working for them.
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Thomas E S Thomas 4 years ago
Everyone belongs in the kitchen. Grandma, mom, dad, kids, the dog. The kitchen is more than just a place to cook and do dishes. It’s a gathering place, a neutral location where tummies are full and everyone is happy. The kitchen is a place for family.
Hans 4 years ago
Calm down, people. This is wanted attention, maybe even wanted cancellation. This is how marketing directors work nowadays. Best to ingore them. Instead of retweeting or discussing, better go to the kitchen and prepare a really good burger. Gender notwithstanding. (Occasional chef Hans does the burgers over here and I think I belong well into the kitchen to do so.)
blugeagua 4 years ago (edited)
But it's still a problem when misogynists start using that tweet for their own gain.
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Combine Elite Soldier 4 years ago
If I'm being honest, I think this was just an honest mistake, and they even admitted fault in the end. I think, had they used that reword that one of the users suggested, things would have gone a much different, probably better way. And also I don't really use Twitter so are you able to edit tweets?
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
I'm still grappling with "Burger King" and "culinary dreams" being used in the same sentence
Anita Pickle 4 years ago (edited)
I wonder how burger king treated the women that spoke up and warned them they could not tweet this. I imagine it probably was similar to this "Don't worry sweetheart, this will be fine." Gross
N G 4 years ago
The only time "women belong in the kitchen" is acceptable is when it's followed immediately by "men belong in the kitchen. Everyone belongs in the kitchen. That's where the food is". ANYTHING else - especially when it's split over multiple tweets where context is obliterated, is a bad move.
Erin 4 years ago
I actually found this pretty funny at first, in a "Who the hell would think this was a good idea to tweet?" kind of way.
Jane Doe 4 years ago
Ooh, yeah, like watching a fail video, and thinking, “wait for it.”
Load More Replies... Raven Sheridan 4 years ago
Obviously they didn't have a woman on their marketing team, because if they did there's no way in hell that that comment would have gone out into the world. They may have meant it to reflect something else, but it's a total fail! Burger King, stop digging yourselves in deeper. 🤦♀️
Paul Davis 4 years ago
yeah from looking at their upper management I wonder how far down the ladder you do have to go before you find any women working for them.
Load More Replies... Thomas E S Thomas 4 years ago
Everyone belongs in the kitchen. Grandma, mom, dad, kids, the dog. The kitchen is more than just a place to cook and do dishes. It’s a gathering place, a neutral location where tummies are full and everyone is happy. The kitchen is a place for family.
Hans 4 years ago
Calm down, people. This is wanted attention, maybe even wanted cancellation. This is how marketing directors work nowadays. Best to ingore them. Instead of retweeting or discussing, better go to the kitchen and prepare a really good burger. Gender notwithstanding. (Occasional chef Hans does the burgers over here and I think I belong well into the kitchen to do so.)
blugeagua 4 years ago (edited)
But it's still a problem when misogynists start using that tweet for their own gain.
Load More Replies... Combine Elite Soldier 4 years ago
If I'm being honest, I think this was just an honest mistake, and they even admitted fault in the end. I think, had they used that reword that one of the users suggested, things would have gone a much different, probably better way. And also I don't really use Twitter so are you able to edit tweets?
Nevits Yibble 4 years ago
I'm still grappling with "Burger King" and "culinary dreams" being used in the same sentence
Anita Pickle 4 years ago (edited)
I wonder how burger king treated the women that spoke up and warned them they could not tweet this. I imagine it probably was similar to this "Don't worry sweetheart, this will be fine." Gross
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