Was she wrong to say what she said?
Chickengate is upon us, as social media users have turned an announcement regarding a chicken sandwich into a full-blown viral phenomenon. People from coast-to-coast have been storming Popeyes fast-food chains demanding to try their acclaimed chicken sandwiches. Videos have circulated showing irate customers standing in long lines only to be told that there aren’t any sandwiches left, while others show exhausted and overworked Popeyes employees pleading with people to stop filming them.
Popeyes reportedly raked in nearly $25 million from their chicken challenge and took to their social media pages on Tuesday to announce that they are all out of their famous chicken sandwiches, for now. In other news, while people visited the restaurants to wait on chicken, 17-year-old student David Ledbetter used the opportunity to register people to vote. The Charlotte, North Carolina teen was recorded standing outside of a local Popeyes with his clipboard in hand. He told reporters, “I decided to register people to vote after I saw there was a lack of young people politically involved. I believe that it is our duty to vote as American citizens and it would be wrong not to exercise our political voice.”
Y’all. We love that you love The Sandwich. Unfortunately we’re sold out (for now). pic.twitter.com/Askp7aH5Rr
— Popeyes Chicken (@PopeyesChicken) August 27, 2019
Singer Janelle Monaé echoed Ledbetter’s sentiments when she made a statement on Twitter. “Perhaps we put voting booths at every Popeyes location?” she joked. “While we wait on that sammich you can register and vote @popeyes holla.” However, Monaé received backlash for her comments as people accused her of implying that black people don’t care about voting but may become interested in exercising their right if there was fried chicken involved.
It’s a shame that a long overdue biopic of the ever heroic Harriet Tubman is being ruined by the likes of janelle monae & cynthia erivo. She is surely rolling her grave knowing the two main black women stars in this movie share a love for ridiculing African-Americans #Popeyes
— Wendi Muse (@MuseWendi) August 26, 2019
Janelle Monae really said they need to put voting booths at Popeyes
niggas can't even eat in peace
— Ahmed/Tinashe plz notice me/Saint Jhn Fan (@big_business_) August 26, 2019
Janelle Monae shaming her own over Popeyes while simultaneously ignoring voter suppression, gerrymandering and ID laws is one thing…..but Cynthia Erivo???? This Nigerian Brit is constantly berating African Americans. It has no business portraying Harriet Tubman. 🤮🖕🏾
— Lauren (@_Elle_Spencer_) August 26, 2019
After viewing the onslaught of responses, Janelle tweeted out an apology. “I think the tweets that I posted about registering and voting were insensitive and wrong—specifically they ignored the very real issues of voter suppression that have impacted my community for years and me directly,” she said. “Thanks to all of you for calling me out (or in) and helping me remember and refocus on the bigger issues. I love y’all. Keep teaching one another. ♥️♥️♥️ Never be afraid to be wrong. Never be afraid to listen and learn.” Should Janelle have apologized?
You know, when other people say things on here that are wrong or misguided, I wonder, “why don’t they just admit they’re wrong and learn from it.” So I’m going to do that now.
1/4— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) August 26, 2019
People that know me, know that I am very passionate about voting and making sure that people around me and in my community have safe and EASY ACCESS to voting. If you care about the same things sign up here to help: https://t.co/fhsSewmnV1
4/4— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) August 26, 2019
People that know me, know that I am very passionate about voting and making sure that people around me and in my community have safe and EASY ACCESS to voting. If you care about the same things sign up here to help: https://t.co/fhsSewmnV1
4/4— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) August 26, 2019