KFC apologises for Kristallnacht chicken and cheese promotion

KFC has apologised for a push notification sent out via its app inviting German customers to celebrate the anniversary of the Nazi Kristallnacht pogrom against Jews by ordering fried chicken and cheese.

It has been speculated that the message was computer generated, with the text to promote its cheesy chicken being automatically connected to current anniversaries and events to stimulate sales. But social media experts in Germany said they were astounded that the company had no checking mechanism to pick up on the blunder, apparently noticing only after it had been reported back to them that the erroneous message had gone out.

Official reports at the time said 91 people were killed in the attacks, about 7,500 businesses were devastated, and 267 synagogues and community halls were destroyed. But historians believe the real figure was higher, with more than 1,300 people losing their lives and at least 1,400 synagogues in Germany and Austria badly damaged or destroyed.