Today is International Women’s Day, and the brands have been preparing to let you know how much they care about women. McDonald’s flipped its golden arches on the company’s social accounts to make the M a W. (The W is for women, get it??) KFC Malaysia has followed suit with Claudia Sanders, Colonel Sander’s wife.
Marketing Week tweeted out the story and photo:
Meet Claudia Sanders 👋
— Marketing Week (@MarketingWeekEd) March 8, 2018
To mark #IWD2018 @kfc is introducing the world to Colonel Sanders’ wife 👇https://t.co/5NNf4KCHFv pic.twitter.com/hurligwamb
Here’s KFC Malaysia’s official tweet about Claudia, who KFC said should be recognized because she “mixed and shipped the spices” for Sanders’ chicken. Yes, really.
This International Women's Day, we want to celebrate another Sanders.
— KFCmalaysia (@KFCmalaysia) March 8, 2018
Learn more about her story at https://t.co/FVSHdlkfHV, and share your own about the woman who has made a difference in your life with us on Instagram by tagging #KFCIWD! pic.twitter.com/Kch6kG6zDL
But just a couple of months ago, Reba McEntire played Colonel Sanders in an ad. So does that mean McEntire is now married to Claudia in this fictional fast-food universe? We hope so.
On Twitter, people lambasted KFC’s attempt at throwing women a bone.
https://twitter.com/rey_z/status/971784180194512896
Women: Pay us equally. Stop harassing us. Stop interrupting us. Respect our bodies.
— Amberly McAteer (@amberlym) March 8, 2018
World: https://t.co/steI6J15bh
https://twitter.com/MadisonMills22/status/971796843960176640
"how can we reach out to women and make them feel empowered?"
— better kate than never (@Sona_Sonara) March 8, 2018
"i've got it. colonel sanders but a woman."
"GENIUS" https://t.co/tVDvL83HfQ
Congrats, women! https://t.co/5Eatf54PFR
— Miriti Murungi (@NutmegRadio) March 8, 2018
I can’t imagine this stage of capitalism is any worse than the next one where it all collapses and we all die https://t.co/l28ZrNsTIk
— p.e. moskowitz (@_pem_pem) March 8, 2018
Is Claudia really Colonel Sanders in disguise?
This is 100% Colonel Sanders in drag trying to get his kids back. https://t.co/9DoliKeVqD
— Jocelyn Geddie (@jocelyngeddie) March 8, 2018
On KFC’s website, the company stated why it was bringing out Claudia for IWD:
It is hard to imagine but KFC would not be where it is today if not for Claudia, wife of Colonel Sanders. While the Colonel created the secret recipe and ran the company, Mrs Sanders mixed and even shipped the spices to restaurants across the country – often late into the night.
This International Women’s Day, we pay tribute to Claudia Sanders for her role in the making of Malaysia’s favourite fried chicken. And to every woman whose ideas, hard work and passion contribute to making the world a better place. Thank you.
KFC invited customers to “Tag #KFCIWD and tell us about the Claudia in your life.”
Some people jokingly asked other brands to reveal their own lady mascots (or spouses of mascots).
wow. your move, Burger “King” https://t.co/rWI9BCHOXZ
— Cooper Fleishman (@_Cooper) March 8, 2018
Your move, Burger Queen https://t.co/q7JVx91hGN
— andi zeisler (@andizeisler) March 8, 2018
I won't rest until @Wendys gives us Mendy's. https://t.co/tW8qLxV8HG
— David Weiner (@daweiner) March 8, 2018
May the best brand win… our respect for not trying to pander to us.