A pizza chain has sparked outrage over its use of former mayor and civil rights activist Marion Barry’s cocaine addiction to sell powdered pastries.
The &Pizza chain has released a range of treats called ‘Marion Berry Knots’ with the slogan ‘these knots will blow you away’ depicted with a white powder decoration.
In a tease post for the product, the insinuation continued with a message reading “our classic buttons got a bump,” printed on a card with piles of white powder on mirrors in the background, surrounded by bags.
The store’s management is now under scrutiny for the marketing angle, with many jumping on the ploy, including Barry’s widow and his former friend.
Marionberries are a similar fruit to blackberries, which originated in Oregon in 1956 and are often used in desserts
&pizza has released their new powdered pastry product, the marketing of which is closely linked to cocaine use and former mayor Marion Barry
Cora Masters Barry is said to have been ‘blinded’ by the similarity to her late husband’s name and the reference to his personal battle with addiction.
Her spokesperson said she has expressed “disappointment and outrage at the inference of the promotion.”
Community activist and friend of Barry, Ronald Moten, organizes a boycott and demonstration at several of the chains’ locations in DC.
Moten told the WashingtonPost: ‘People are really damned. They want to know what they can do. And we’re going to close them Friday and Saturday nights, when most people go there, when the clubs go out.
“We’re going to show them that we still have a voice in this city,” he added.
When the campaign rolled out on social media, posts included the text: “For a limited time, try our marionberry filled buttons, topped with icing and enough icing sugar for you and a few friends!”
Another of the company’s promotional displays read: “It’s criminal how good these are.”
The apparent attempt to highlight Barry for a unique marketing angle was not well taken, with many expressing their anger and confusion online.
“Lol, are you really making fun of the history of the city you do business in?” one commented.
“Why would you find this funny?” said another.
“This is wrong and you know it. Just because someone has a problem doesn’t mean we have to keep bringing it up,” wrote another.
“Marion Barry was more than the demons he faced. He did so much for the DC community, that is the legacy we need to highlight,” she added.
Marion Barry was the former mayor of the District of Columbia. He had a lasting impact on the community and after four terms in office was known as the district’s ‘mayor for life’
Barry was caught on video smoking crack after being ‘lured’ to a hotel room by a woman he had an ‘amorous’ relationship with during a 1990 FBI sting
A video ad for the product was also posted on Instagram, where viewers were also dissatisfied.
“This is deeply disrespectful to our city and our iconic mayor. It is completely inappropriate to use references to drug use to promote our pizza,” one person wrote.
‘The cocaine joke is especially offensive because our beloved mayor is no longer here. This type of promotion is not only rude, but also shows a lack of respect. Disrespect his memory,” they added.
Another said: ‘Part of me feels like this is a rage marketing tactic. But either way, a cocaine joke associated with a black DC mayor is very tacky and tasteless. There really wasn’t anything else you could do to generate numbers?’
“Making fun of drug addiction for a pizza promo is kind of insane,” said another.
The chain’s CEO Mike Burns said: ‘We’re talking about a marionberry, which is spelled with an ‘e’. We put that in a knot, drizzle it with icing and cover it with powdered sugar. It’s lovely – we can’t wait for DC to try it’
Bernard Demczuk worked with Barry on the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee in the 1960s and later held a high post in his mayoral administration.
Demczuk told the Washington Post: “My reaction is: it’s disgusting. I will do everything I can to close that pizzeria. They have no right to monetize someone’s problem, which is a big problem for many people in this country.
“It’s shameful to make a profit off a man who dedicated his life to helping people.”
The former mayor of the District of Columbia had a lasting impact on the community and after four terms in office was known as the District’s “mayor for life.”
Barry became mayor in 1979 and was known for focusing his resources on poor neighborhoods, government contracts for black businesses and city payroll jobs.
He was known to struggle with alcohol and drug addiction, and during an FBI sting in 1990, he was caught smoking crack in a hotel room with a woman he was in an “amorous” relationship with.
The &pizza chain has been around for twelve years and recently celebrated their anniversary in July
When he was arrested, he was heard muttering: “B*** set me up!”, referring to the woman who took him to the Washington hotel room.
Barry served six months in federal prison and completed a drug rehabilitation program before returning to his political platform.
In less than two years he was mayor of the district again before dying in 2014 at the age of 78 from cardiovascular disease with high blood pressure, kidney disease and diabetes.
Barry became mayor in 1979 and was known for focusing his resources on poor neighborhoods, government contracts for black businesses and city payroll jobs.
Barry served six months in federal prison and completed a drug rehabilitation program before returning to his political platform
A brief statement was released by a PR firm representing the chain on behalf of CEO Mike Burns.
He said in the statement: ‘We are talking about a marionberry, which is spelled with an ‘e’.
‘We put it in a knot, sprinkle it with icing and then sprinkle it with icing sugar. It’s wonderful, we can’t wait for DC to try it.’
Daily Mail has contacted &pizza for comment.