Source: The Washington Post / Getty
A Washington D.C.-based pizzeria is facing backlash for their newest offering. Their “Marion Berry” dessert features various disappointing drug references to the city’s former mayor, Marion Barry.
As spotted on TMZ, a restaurant is clout chasing at the expense of the late politician’s name. Last week, an establishment called &pizza launched a new item with called the “Marion Berry Knots,” a serving of doughy balls filled with fruit and topped with vanilla icing. Drizzled on top is powdered sugar, and this is where the disrespect comes in. Their advertising collateral says, “THESE KNOTS WILL BLOW YOU AWAY!” A caption of “Bump up the party with our all-new Marion Berry Knots! It’s criminal how good these are,” can be found another piece. Additionally, the pizzeria uses a photo of the sugar piled up next to a tray resembling a cocaine serving.
Naturally, the item soon went viral sparking outrage within the community. On Wednesday (Oct. 16), locals showed up at the restaurant to protest the location. The local NAACP chapter president Akosua Ali expressed her disappointment as well. “The life, legacy, lineage and name of Marion Barry deserves to be remembered as a pioneer for economic development, real-estate development, black business empowerment, youth employment and as the Mayor of the people. Mayor Barry taught us the power of economics and today, we call on the community to demand &pizza right this egregious wrong.”
Marion Barry’s wife has confirmed with NBC Washington that the family has “requested that the attorneys for the Estate of Marion Barry Jr. look into the matter and act accordingly.” The former politician served as the mayor of the District of Columbia from 1979 to 1991 and served another term from 1995 to 1999. In 1990, he was infamously caught on video smoking crack and propositioning a prostitute as part of a sting operation.
