Krispy Kreme is under fire after a special promotion drew large crowds of people to its stores.
As a commiseration to all the people that had spent birthdays in lockdown, the doughnut maker launched a giveaway on Monday promising 12 free doughnuts to anyone with a birthday between mid-March and mid-July.
However, given the fact around 33 per cent of the population would statistically fall into this bracket, the promotion saw flocks of people soon flood to stores, sparking social distancing concerns.
Krispy Kreme gave away 420,000 free doughnuts as part of the promotion, with stock running out by Monday afternoon.
https://www.facebook.com/KrispyAustralia/photos/a.10150732756475865/10158226972795865
Although Krispy Kreme did offer the promotion in its drive-through stores in Victoria and urged customers “to comply with social distancing rules at all times”, the deal has still drawn widespread condemnation.
NSW Police told ABC News officers had been called to Krispy Kreme locations across Sydney to monitor the crowds.
“This is nonsensical and defies logic,” said NSW Polic acting assistant commissioner Tony Cooke in a statement.
“We have people in NSW who have lost jobs, people who have missed the opportunity to farewell their loved ones at funerals, and of course, people who have lost their lives due to COVID-19.”
There was a similar mood on social media.
Authorities are literally begging Australians to be smart and people are really out here risking coronavirus for a free doughnut https://t.co/ZB14APIizA
— Josh Butler (@JoshButler) July 14, 2020
Confirmed, humanity is doomed 🤦
"Coronavirus fears as Krispy Kreme offer attracts large number of people across NSW" https://t.co/GHYNU2oFOR
— theJuiceMedia (@thejuicemedia) July 14, 2020
i’m sorry but krispy kreme running an expansive free donut promotion in the middle of a pandemic is insanely funny https://t.co/dKP2ZfvhsW
— james hennessy (@jrhennessy) July 14, 2020
'Siri, show me 2020 in one news story'https://t.co/ubjMbjrR88
— Lucy Carter (@lucethoughts) July 14, 2020
