Business

Liberal Fashion Designer Kenneth Cole Apologizes for Egypt Tweet

NEW YORK (AP) — An epic Twitter FAIL for fashion designer Kenneth Cole on Thursday led him to apologize for a tweet that used the crisis in Cairo to promote his spring line.

The offensive tweet touched off an online flash mob of criticism and inspired a fake Twitter feed that mocked Cole’s original while attracting more than 3,000 followers on the micro-blogging site in a matter of hours.

The offending tweet from (at)KennethCole read: “Millions are in an uproar in (hashtag) Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online.”

Liberal Fashion Designer Kenneth Cole Apologizes for Egypt Tweet

The tweet went on to provide a link to the collection, but it was taken down about five hours later, when Cole said he was sorry on Facebook.

“I apologize to everyone who was offended by my insensitive tweet about the situation in Egypt. I’ve dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues, and in hindsight my attempt at humor regarding a nation liberating themselves against oppression was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate,” the post read.

Liberal Fashion Designer Kenneth Cole Apologizes for Egypt Tweet

He had earlier sent an apology by Twitter, but that wasn’t good enough for whoever raced onto Twitter and created a satirical fake Cole feed about three hours later called (at)KennethColePR.

“Wardrobe got you water-BORED? GITMO of our new spring collection,” read one send-up.

Other deliberately offensive tweets from the fake feed included, “Rolling through Germany? Gestapo by our new Berlin store!“ and ”Jeffrey Dahmer would have eaten up our spring collection!”

Cole is known for timely, news-related ads. Shortly after the Gulf oil spill last year, he opened an online T-shirt store to raise money for the cleanup with shirt slogans like “I Clean Up Well.” After a jet landed safely on the Hudson River in 2009, Cole plastered a billboard with, “In tough times, some land on their feet (others on the Hudson).”

A spokeswoman for Kenneth Cole, Laura Klein, confirmed that the designer himself had written the original tweet and the apology.

“And the day’s award for corporate insensitivity goes to: Kenneth Cole,” wrote Nick McMaster on Newser, a news aggregator site.

Cole is married to Maria Cuomo Cole, the sister of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Comments (100)

1 2
  • blanco
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 7:00am

    Isn’t this dude gay and jewish? Well, we know how the people in Egypt feel about him!!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 6:57am

    Does a fashion designer matter that much? Who cares what the idiot tweeted.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 8:23am

      Easy, easy… I’ve owned about 12 pairs of his Reaction shoe line… My feet care!!!

      Report Post »  
    • MareeClaire
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 8:24am

      Glenn Beck never lets a crisis go to waste for an opportunity to smear progressives or hate on Muslims.

      Report Post »  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 9:17am

      And I never let a Coors go to waste or miss an opportuity to bash a Miller High Life… What’s your point?

      Report Post »  
  • ALISSTER
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 6:52am

    He’s just jealous because Arabs came up with the Snuggie first.

    Report Post » ALISSTER  
  • Lee Butchee
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 6:49am

    Libs have gotten a hold of this comments section and ruined it. Would you morons please go back to HuffPo and leave the adults here to speak intelligently? Thank you.

    Report Post » Lee Butchee  
  • canuck44
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 6:16am

    The guy is a huge lib supporting any lib causes and the Dems. Taste, ethics and decorum are not part of the average liberal’s equipment…I have passed on his “designs” for many years now in favor of other American designers who don’t filter their profits to anti-American causes.

    Report Post »  
  • USA_DisabledVet
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:59am

    Glenn Beck does not know much about the Founding Fathers at least when it comes to George Washington.

    Report Post »  
  • SouthernAmerican
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:52am

    OK, the guy made a stupid tweet, a mistake in judgement? OOO Lord i hate to do this BUT we as conservatives always hark on freedom of speech, he exercised his. You folks know Libs think all funny and shiznit. Now he, as a stupid tweeter, may have to hire an extra Bodyguard or 10, “cause someone of the radical persuasion may just may want to have him explain this in person, you know kinda like a rushdee thing.

    Report Post »  
  • EP46
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:37am

    @WALKWITHME1966
    You make statements as if they are facts so please share the facts with us so we can educate ourselves. For over 3 years obama lived in Indonesia and he attended the Mosque with his stepfather..it was required in that country that children follow the religion of their father. Since he used Lolo Soetoro’s name, he had to follow the customs. Then he sat in Rev.Wright’s church in Chicago for 20 yrs. which is something no Christian would do, being as they teach Collective Salvation. These are documented facts….so please share with us the facts you have that show obama not to be a Muslim and the facts that show him to be a Christian. Being a Christian is a way of life, not something you proclaim on tv.

    Report Post »  
  • StackAble
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:04am

    @WalkWithMe1966
    Obama is not a Muslim, agreed, Also I could careless what this Clothes Designer dude said, didn’t phase me, anybody that this Tweet bothered, is so hyper sensitive they deserve to get their feelings hurt! Lord save us from the wussy brigade.
    Here’s a little secret about your man Obama.. no not Muslim – check; born in Hawaii – check, says he’s a Christian, I’ll take his words for it.. I have my doubts about his understand of that that really means…

    What we do know about his beliefs and ideology from his own works and words show plainly that he is a Progressive Socialist and likely a closet Marxist. Beyond that IMO he is an egotist who is so under qualified for office it’s laughable. His favorite religion that is evident for all with eyes to see is Progressive Socialism, and me thinks Barry thinks too highly of himself. The Chief public servant of the nation should be the most humble of all of us, and quite frankly I see no evidence of humility in him in any shape or form..Oh and contrary to popular belief, Christianity and Progressive Socialism are not compatible beliefs, Christ didn’t die to redistribute wealth to the Collective, Marx never knew Jesus or desired to. Sooner or later both you and Barry are gonna have to truly choose. Who do U serve?

    Report Post » StackAble  
  • beartooth_bee
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 4:42am

    Happy Birthday Glenn . And thank you for all that you do. Please continue doing what you know is your calling. And you others if you don’t get it GOD bless you too>

    Report Post »  
    • Diane TX
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 4:52am

      I didn’t know that today was Glenn Beck birthday. Happy birthday Glenn. My grandson’s birthday is February 11th – same as Sarah Palin’s.

      Report Post »  
    • MareeClaire
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 8:27am

      Beck forced to apologize for “mocking Asians” http://t.co/xB6omYb

      Report Post »  
    • pammypoo
      Posted on February 5, 2011 at 5:32pm

      I thought Glenn’s birthday was February 10th…Oh well, we’ll find out!!!!

      Report Post » pammypoo  
  • beartooth_bee
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 4:37am

    Lord have mercy on us all if this is what matters! So sad.

    Report Post »  
  • Getten
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 4:06am

    Never lose your humility. – Controversy is great advertising.

    Report Post » Getten  
  • sadmanwhossane
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:44am

    so much drama in this.

    Report Post »  
  • welovetheUSA
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:43am

    Who cares….the important deal here is Obama…George Soros and all his Muslim buddies are doing this on purpose…………Soon this will turn very bad and them we can impeach Obama.

    Report Post » welovetheUSA  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:54am

      Nothing is being done by Soro – that is just Beck’s conspiracy theory which everyone everywhere is making fun of him about!! This is not going to spread here – we will never have violent riots – actually, I should change that to read that there is little chance that we will have violent riots here. And if we do, it will be because we don’t have jobs – not because we don’t have freedom!
      http://wp.me/pYLB7-A4

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:57am

      And our President is not a Muslim – that line is really getting old!! http://wp.me/pYLB7-A4

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • MareeClaire
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 4:21am

      Hogwash.

      Report Post »  
    • Diane TX
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 4:34am

      Really not a Muslim? Daddy was. Granddaddy was. For good measure, White grandparents were communist, and I’m not sure what Mommy was – except she liked to pose nude. Wonderful Christian family, right?

      Report Post »  
    • YaDarnTootin
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 7:22am

      barrack hussein obama, sounds like a muslim name to me!

      Report Post » YaDarnTootin  
  • MareeClaire
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:16am

    Beck‘s war on Obama targets the president’s family http://t.co/pd9Pbg9

    Beck’s sexist attack: “I don‘t think I’ve ever seen the first lady with her — excuse the expression — but with her breasts all smooshed up.

    Report Post »  
  • MareeClaire
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 2:55am

    So many well-dressed tea partiers wearing Kenneth Cole! Pfft. Tea partiers buy their clothes at WalMart.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:02am

      What’s you point? .. oh I get you really don’t have one do you .. first we are old elites now we are Walmart shoppers … get a clue .. the TEA Party is Americans — anyone who wants to join who has a love of THIS country .. no membership dues or dress codes … that type of Freedom seems to bother the left … A LOT!

      Perhaps you prefer purple t-shirts provided for you!

      Report Post »  
    • bbr48
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:49am

      That wasn’t nice

      Report Post »  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 8:18am

      @CATB
      “anyone who wants to join who has a love of THIS country .. no membership dues or dress codes ”

      Guns not required… but STRONGLY suggested.

      Report Post »  
  • MareeClaire
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 2:53am

    So. He apologized. Why is this news unless you are trying to exploit the situation to your political benefit?

    Please don’t tell me that Glenn has NEVER made a joke in bad taste for which he subsequently apologized.

    Beck mocked Obama daughters’ “level of education.” As previously noted, on the May 28 edition of his radio program, Beck mocked President Obama’s daughters during an exchange with co-host Pat Gray: http://t.co/8avha2j

    Flashback: Beck forced to apologize for “mocking Asians” in 1995 http://t.co/xB6omYb
    When Tong telephoned WKCI- FM to protest the broadcast as a racial slur, disc jockeys Glenn Beck and Pat Grey made fun of him. The two played a gong in the background several times, and Papineau, the executive producer, mocked a Chinese accent.

    Report Post »  
  • StackAble
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 2:13am

    @ cheezwhiz Burka Barbie LMAO!!! Kaboom! – where can I get one? gotta have it. Seriously (nearly) someone could makes some real $$ of this – think of all the accessories! C4 suit Vests, Dynamite Negligee!, High Heeled shoe bombs! and my all time favorite – Explosive panties – its not just an accessory, its a game – can TSA agent Ken get them off her before they detonate… The possibilities are endless! wheee fun!

    Report Post » StackAble  
    • BUMBLIN
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 10:21am

      @Stackable … I can‘t stop laughin’! That is too good. Thanks for makin’ my day!!!

      Report Post »  
  • tnturner
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 2:12am

    If he had just figured out how to trash Palin at the same time it would have been o.k..

    Report Post » tnturner  
  • mendolover
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 2:07am

    His ads are pompous and haughty, he was due. Maybe he learned.

    Report Post »  
    • MareeClaire
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 2:54am

      Personally I don’t much care for the ads from Vermont Teddy Bear.

      Report Post »  
  • Mickeyd
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 1:56am

    Okay, somebody has to say it. What we’re seeing here is an example of the liberal thought process: “NEVER WASTE A CRISIS.”

    Need we be surprised, really?

    Report Post »  
    • walkwithme1966
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:50am

      I’m a liberal and I have never found that line of “never waste a crisis” amusing in anyway and it is certainly not how all liberals feel about a crisis! Sorry – but I have been wanting to say that for a long time. http://wp.me/pYLB7-A4

      Report Post » walkwithme1966  
    • chuck
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 9:04am

      it’s ok walk, we understand, but you invent a label and it kinda sticks…Rahmbo ‘dead fish’ Emanuel is your Huckleberry.

      Report Post »  
  • ottodiedacktick
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 1:22am

    Sometimes people joke to stop from crying; sometimes they just want to make money.

    Report Post »  
  • flyguync
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 1:20am

    Maybe he could send a few samples of his line over for the pink ladies to model while they are there.

    Report Post »  
  • GEW
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 1:18am

    ….this is sad…just plan sad.

    Report Post » GEW  
    • biggreenboo
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 8:14am

      That’s funny… I had some plan icecream last night.

      And my plains for the Superbowl is to have some more plan icecream.

      Report Post »  
  • quiet little lamb
    Posted on February 4, 2011 at 1:17am

    oh geez. that tweet was fine. humor soothes. apologizing for good humor…epic fail

    Report Post » quiet little lamb  
    • cheezwhiz
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 1:28am

      So what was in that spring collection ?
      Looks OK to me
      http://focusuk.files.wordpress.com/2010/06/burqa-contest.jpg

      Report Post » cheezwhiz  
    • Rational Man
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 1:59am

      I just wish he was the only cold hearted one to take advantage of that crisis!

      Report Post » Rational Man  
    • Edgar Bennet
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 2:55am

      I like the one with the cute face

      Report Post » Edgar Bennet  
    • GONESURFING
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:22am

      He sounds like a stupid twit to me. And I don’t mean tweet.

      Report Post » GONESURFING  
    • brliantedj
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 3:23am

      Man, thats it I will never wear Kenneth’s S##T again!! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! He’s so absorbed I will purposely buy his shirt at a discount bin for $6.99 at discount store just to have a bonfire in his honor. You are now recognized Mr.Dude. ROCK ON!!!

      Report Post »  
    • 79USMC83
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:24am

      For those who want to know who the Muslim Brotherhood is go its English web site. Look at the Communist advertisement .

      http://www.ikhwanweb.com/article.php?id=804

      We Must Be Followers

      Since the Muslim Brotherhood believe in this understanding, they demand that the people work so that the foundations of modern Eastern resurgence are built on the basic principles of Islam, in every aspect of life. And they believe that every feature of modern renaissance which is contrary to the principles of Islam and conflicts with the laws of the Qur’an only serves corruption and worthless experimenting, which after making enormous sacrifices the nation will not have benefited from. It is more advantageous for the nation which seeks revival to take the shortest route by adhering to the precepts of Islam.

      The Muslim Brotherhood are not addressing their appeal to any one particular Islamic country. They are sending out their call, hoping that it will reach the ears of the leaders and chiefs of state in every country whose people follow the Islamic way of life. To that end, they are taking this opportunity which all Islamic countries are bound by, as they seek to build their future on solid foundations embodying the basic element of progress, advancement, and civilisation.
      The Muslim Brotherhood belives in the whole world ruled under a Caliphate !!

      Reform the Law

      Every nation has a set of laws in which the people partake their ruling. These sets of laws must be derived from the proscriptions of the Islamic Sharee’ah (drawn from the Noble Qur’an, and in accordance with the basic sources of Islamic jurisprudence). The Islamic Sharee’ah and the decisions of the Islamic jurists are completely sufficient, supply every need, and cover every contingency, and they produce the most excellent results and the most blessed fruits. If the punishments prescribed by Allah were carried out, they would be a deterrent dismaying even the most hardened of criminals, restraining even the habitual thug, and relieving governments of the annoyances of worthless experiments. Experience confirms and supports that, basic assumptions of modern legislation proclaim and sustain it, and Allah (SWT) has commanded and prescribed it:

      Report Post »  
    • Frank Lee Trickey
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:25am

      What a jerk exploiting a situation to help him out personally, thank goodness Obama doesn’t do stuff like that, say with our financial market or economy. Only the scum of the Earth would exploit a situation that effected millions for their own personal agenda.

      Report Post » Frank Lee Trickey  
    • DashRipRock
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 5:55am

      REAL MEN

      dont

      TWEET

      Report Post »  
    • DashRipRock
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 6:22am

      79usmc83

      F. O.

      Report Post »  
    • Dustyluv
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 6:25am

      @DASH…Girlymen do though….
      @Cheez…you are sick man LOL

      Report Post »  
    • hifi74
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 6:58am

      MareeClaire, it’s called reporting the new accurately. Get off your liberal high horse you vexatious little twit.

      Report Post » hifi74  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 7:00am

      Come on guys! Lets not get side-tracked by something as stupid as this. If you think its that big a deal then don’t buy his stuff.
      We (patriots) talk about free-speech, so we can‘t get nuts when someone says something we don’t like that doesn’t denegrate our country.

      Report Post »  
    • JustTheFactsPlease
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 7:21am

      AGREED! Come on… ever watch Saturday night live..

      Report Post » JustTheFactsPlease  
    • poverty.sucks
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 7:56am

      Where‘s Obama’s apology?

      Report Post » poverty.sucks  
    • seejanemom
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 8:10am

      Old Ken Cole was a merry old troll
      And a merry old troll was he;
      He called for a wipe from his toilet bowl
      And he called for his man diddlers three.
      Every diddler he had a diddle,
      And a very fine diddle had he;
      Oh there’s none so fair, as can compare
      With Ken Cole and his man diddlers three.

      Report Post »  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 8:50am

      never apologize, it is a sign of weakness.

      Report Post »  
    • C.ChristieJ.Bolton2012
      Posted on February 4, 2011 at 11:53pm

      Kenneth Cole is a Liberal … looks like I will be putting my money where my mouth is and will not be buying any more of his stuff.

      Report Post »  
    • *************************
      Posted on February 5, 2011 at 5:35am

      No, really … the INSIDE INFORMATION is … Egypt IS ramping up for the new spring collection!

      “Tell me, schatze, is it twue what they say, about the way you people are … gifted?” -Lili Von Shtupp, Blazing Saddles

      Report Post » WeDontNeedNoStinkinBadges  
    • Nick84
      Posted on February 7, 2011 at 6:35am

      http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/03/kenneth-cole-pr-twitter_n_818312.html#s234921&title=KennethColePR

      Report Post »  
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