Domino's New Zealand drops promotion giving free pizzas to ‘Karens' following backlash
In popular internet culture, the name "Karen" has come to be used as a pejorative term to refer to white women who act offensive and entitled.
Domino's in New Zealand dropped a promotional offer that promised to give all "mask-wearing, law-abiding Karens" a free pizza after receiving backlash.
Earlier this week, the pizza chain's Australia and New Zealand social media pages said they wanted to reclaim the name after it became a pejorative term used to describe middle-aged white women who like to complain.
The giveaway asked customers named "Karen" to fill in a form that tells the pizza chain in 250 words why they were one of the "nice” ones in order to receive a free pizza.
While introducing the offer, Domino's chief marketing officer in the region, Allan Collins, said:
"The name 'Karen' has become synonymous with anyone who is entitled, selfish, and likes to complain," Domino’s ANZ chief marketing officer Allan Collins said in a media release about the promotion. "What used to be a light-hearted meme has become quite the insult to anyone actually named Karen.”
The offer received criticism online in New Zealand, with some arguing that it ignored much more important issues.
Following the backlash, Domino's New Zealand offered an apology on their Facebook page. As of this writing, Domino's Australia was still running its promotion.
