&Pizza has apologized and removed a dessert item from its menu after public backlash in Washington, D.C. The item referenced the late former mayor Marion Barry’s history of drug use.
Mike Burns, the CEO of &Pizza, admitted the company made a mistake. He stated, “Candidly, we made a mistake.” The apology came after community activists organized a boycott of the chain and planned protests at several of its stores.
Burns acknowledged that while the intent was humor, it missed the mark. “We’re an edgy brand known for being risk-takers. The parody of the former Mayor and portrayal of substance abuse was wrong,” he said. He also expressed understanding of the frustration caused, particularly to Barry’s family.
Barry, who passed away in 2014, is still respected in many D.C. communities. He served four terms as mayor in the 1980s and 1990s and had a long career on the D.C. Council. He faced significant personal struggles, including drug abuse, and was famously videotaped using crack cocaine in a 1990 FBI sting.
This week, &Pizza launched a pastry called “Marion Berry knots,” which referenced Barry’s addiction. The promotional campaign included phrases like “These knots will blow you away” and featured a photo with white powder resembling drugs.
The campaign upset community activists, who criticized it as a callous exploitation of Barry’s complicated legacy. While Barry struggled with addiction, he was also known for his civil rights work and efforts to reduce poverty in Washington, D.C.
Harriet’s Wildest Dreams, a Black-led mutual aid organization, called for &Pizza to meet with Black leaders to address the harm caused to Barry’s family and the community.
On Tuesday, as criticism grew, Burns issued a statement that some activists found dismissive. He stated the pastry was named after the marionberry fruit and not the former mayor, adding, “We can’t wait for D.C. to try it.”
At a news conference on Wednesday, Rev. Tony Lee, pastor of Community of Hope AME Church, expressed the activists’ sentiments outside an &Pizza location. He criticized the company for disrespecting Barry’s legacy. “You cannot disrespect and spit on the grave of the great Marion Barry,” he said. “That is not to be tolerated.”
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