Kenneth Cole Tweet Uses #Cairo To Promote Spring Collection

UPDATE:
Kenneth Cole has taken to Facebook to express his remorse:

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.

Kenneth Cole, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer

He added that he has removed this morning's tweet, which you can see screen shots of below.

Previously:
Millions are in uproar since Kenneth Cole invoked the Egypt uprising and Cairo hashtag to promote his spring line on Twitter this morning.

The tweet read "Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online at http://bit.ly/KCairo."

The tweet was signed "-KC" implying that the gaffe had the designer's approval before going public.

Here's the original tweet:

Soon after he issued an apology, but at press time the original tweet had not been deleted.

Quick Poll

Kenneth Cole's use of #Cairo is...

Tasteless and totally offensive.

Not ideal, but not awful.

Witty!

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A satirical twitter account, KennethColePR, has already been created. So far they've tweeted missives like these:

Comments

[MsVella]

06:05 PM on 02/07/2011

LOL funny tweets! Grow thicker skins, jesus what weaklings some of you are.

[realitybaby]

04:18 PM on 02/07/2011

wow WE all really take our freedom for granted - many many capitalist are just so insensitive its not ONLY this guy - come on look around U THINK THOSE MEXICAN DRUG DEALERS ARE DOING WHAT THEY DO FOR 2 CUSTOMERS?

[behavingbadly]

11:39 AM on 02/05/2011

"Jeffrey Dahmer would kill for a look at our new spring line"

[ActaNonVerba]

06:51 AM on 02/05/2011

When I heard this, my initial reaction was: Who would make a joke and try to make a buck out of Arabs/Muslims suffering? My answer to myself was: "A Jewish person". Looked it up. Sure enough. So, call me names if you want, just sayin'.

[BlackWebSeries]

07:55 PM on 02/04/2011

What's the difference between this and the skit on Saturday Night Live this past weekend.

[Jewels23]

06:34 PM on 02/04/2011

LOL

I heard that Ethiopia was starving for a glimpse of KC's new line.

[rabit818]

04:12 PM on 02/04/2011

I am off to Cairo to show off my spring 2011 collection of hard hats, bicycle hats and bullet proof alligator skin vests. Accessories include rocks (natural of course) embedded by rhinestones! Oh and the "auto light" molotov cocktails! Cheers!

[Lakesideboy]

04:07 PM on 02/04/2011

I'll never buy anything Kenneth Cole again. I am so anti-designer right now and fed up with their laughs all the way to the bank and how they've created such a disturbingly materialistic society.
Time for a change America.........

[rabit818]

04:07 PM on 02/04/2011

I hear Tommy Hilfiger is ready to Tweet at the next Arabic uprising - maybe Jordan?

[HamboneandFlippy]

01:11 PM on 02/04/2011

Yes - let's all get on our big giant high horses about a fashion designer's crude humor. I'm sure the Egyptian people can go back to their fight for freedom knowing that we have such an acute sensitivity to their real oppressor: Kenneth Cole.

[EdRock]

10:54 AM on 02/07/2011

I thought it was witty. What's happening in Cairo isn't a natural disaster like Hurricane Katrina, or a terrorist action like 9/11. Its democracy, why do we need to be sooo sensitive about this??? It should be celebrated.

OMG!!! A designer made use of a current event to sell his clothes!! So insensitive!!!! Why I've never!!! Its giving me the vapors!!!

[Alan Estrada]

10:42 AM on 02/04/2011

Create shockingly lame controversy, say you're happily sorry, then use it to advertise like Mr. Slick, hoping to sell, sell, sell, offensively desperate for profit. Bait, hook and switch. Ken, why don't you tweet this: "Lady Di still dying to get into Kenneth Cole" or "Adolf Hitler still killing to get into Kenneth Cole". How about "Mother Teresa's remains bought and F'd by Kenneth Cole at Kenneth Cole"? I PROMISE EVERYONE HERE THAT I, ALAN ESTRADA, WILL NEVER BUY KENNETH COLE. Who's with me on this?

[nananance]

09:01 PM on 02/04/2011

Fanned

[Alan Estrada]

01:51 AM on 02/05/2011

Thanks nananance. Ruff.

[tswift4evar]

10:38 AM on 02/04/2011

I take things seriously and demand that everyone else do the same!

[Ole Liberal Soul]

10:22 AM on 02/04/2011

I find it interesting that those who support democracy in Egypt are outraged by this. What happened to that whole 'free speech' thing ( it kinda complements democracy)..... just a thought.

[art525]

10:26 AM on 02/04/2011

He's allowed to say it and we are allowed to be offended by it. Simple.

[Ole Liberal Soul]

10:37 AM on 02/04/2011

Touche... but you gotta admit it's a tad bit ironic

[Sandra Larsen]

12:30 PM on 02/04/2011

Mostly we are allowed to BOYCOTT Kenneth Cole for their insensitivity.

[steelej]

10:09 AM on 02/04/2011

Whether or not he tweets insensitive things - twitter is so stupid anyway - his clothes are awful, and his shoes are worse. That's the real outrage.

[TonyG-on-Huff]

01:20 AM on 02/07/2011

Once bought a pair of Kenneth Cole shoes. They lasted all of four months. Didn't need this controversy to boycott him.

[GraniteSkyline]

10:08 AM on 02/04/2011

So people getting beat up and killed is humorous and a marketing strategy for Kenneth Cole?