Earlier this week, DC-based &Pizza announced a limited-time dessert called “Marion Berry Knotts,” described as “Marion berry filled knots topped with icing, powdered sugar, and then even more powdered sugar.”
The promotional materials included the phrase, “Enough powder for you and a few friends! THESE KNOTS WILL BLOW YOU AWAY!” alongside an image of the knots next to a pile of powdered sugar, which many saw as a reference to the late DC mayor Marion Barry’s struggles with substance abuse.
Facing widespread backlash, including calls for a boycott by the NAACP, &Pizza announced on Wednesday that it would be removing the item from its menu. CEO Mike Burns issued a statement saying, “Dear D.C., candidly, we made a mistake. And for that, we sincerely apologize. We hear the D.C. community and have removed the Marion Berry Knots from our menu effective immediately. Those who know the &pizza brand know we stand for philanthropy, activism, and societal betterment in the communities we serve. While humor was our intent, it was regrettably off the mark. The parody of the former Mayor and portrayal of substance abuse was wrong. We recognize his impact on the District and greater Capital area and understand why his legacy remains as strong as it is today. We are actively reaching out to community leaders who have voiced concern. Our goal is to connect with them to identify how we can work together to make a positive impact. Again, we apologize. We have nothing but love for D.C., which we consider the greatest city in the world. Trust that &pizza hears you and we will do better.”
In response, another DC based pizza chain, Wiseguy Pizza announced that it would honor Marion Barry’s legacy by donating a portion of all proceeds from its locations to the Marion Barry Jr. Legacy Foundation through the end of November. Warren Thompson, President and Chairman of the board of Thompson Hospitality, commented, “As someone who knew Marion Barry personally, I am offended by the recent promotion. It is deeply inappropriate to use his name and legacy in such a disrespectful manner. Marion Barry was a pivotal figure in Washington, DC, and we will be donating a portion of all Wiseguy Pizza sales through the end of November to the Marion Barry Legacy Foundation to show our support.”