Jeremy Lin is an Asian American basketball player that graduated from Harvard and now plays for the New York Knicks. He is gaining international fame since he became the starting point guard for the Knicks earlier this month.
The Ben & Jerry's Boston Scoop Shops decided to create a limited-edition flavored ice cream, "Taste the Lin-Sanity," in honor of Lin and his rising fame in the NBA at their Harvard Square location to recognize the Harvard graduate. "Taste the Lin-Sanity" had pieces of fortune cookies in it and people were offended by the racial insensitivity caused by the fortune cookies in the ice cream.
The local shop posted an apology on Facebook and Twitter saying they did not intend to offend anyone, they were just trying to honor the rising NBA star since he was a Harvard graduate.
They replaced the fortune cookies in the recipe with bits of waffle cones and the flavor sold out over the weekend.
I think they did the right thing by recognizing the situation quickly and apologizing on Facebook and Twitter to anyone that took offense of the fortune cookies in the ice cream. Even though they are not a media outlet and were just trying to sell ice cream, this should be a learning opporunity for any buisness trying to capitalize on Lin's rising fame and they should think about what they are communicating or putting in a recipe beforehand.
http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-jeremy-lin-yogurt-20120227,0,1130363.story
http://www.prnewsonline.com/prnewsblog/index.php/2012/02/27/ben-jerrys-lin-sanity-flavor-leaves-bad-taste/
-Lindsey O'Neal
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1 comment:
People take things way too seriously. But I agree, the company did the right thing by focusing on the emotions of the customers.
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