CHINA: Local authorities put pressure on a small fried chicken store to remove its sign that combines U.S. President Barack Obama's face with the body of KFC's Colonel Sanders, according to its 21-year-old shop owner

Record ID: 611191

  • Title: CHINA: Local authorities put pressure on a small fried chicken store to remove its sign that combines U.S. President Barack Obama's face with the body of KFC's Colonel Sanders, according to its 21-year-old shop owner
  • Date: 12th October 2011
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (OCTOBER 9, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE WALKING ON STREET FRIED CHICKEN SHOP SIGN BEARING OBAMA'S IMAGE VARIOUS OF CAMERAMAN SHOOTING STORE CUSTOMER ORDERING FRIED CHICKEN FRIED CHICKEN VARIOUS OF SHOP OWNER ZHU BAOLAI SERVING CHICKEN (SOUNDBITE) (Mandarin) SHOP OWNER ZHU BAOLAI SAYING: "I think Obama has a great smile. He looks kind. I hope he can bring
  • Embargoed: 27th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: China, China
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAPXP6GU9SH7S5CBRN3ZW23L0A
  • Story Text: A small fried chicken shop in the outskirts of Beijing is drawing worldwide attention, thanks to its sign that puts the U.S. President Barack Obama's face on the body of KFC's Colonel Sanders.
    The shop was originally named "OFC" -- short for "Obama Fried Chicken" -- by its owners who study at a nearby university.
    Photos of this mock-KFC sign have spread all over the internet and gained coverage from media organisations in the likes of CNN and Al Jazeera.
    The shop has since renamed itself "UFO" in fear of legal repercussions from KFC, and took down the sign completely yesterday evening (October 11) due to "pressure from local authorities," according to its 21-year-old shop owner Zhu Baolai.
    Zhu, a second-year university student, said he opened the store on Saturday (October 8) to gain real-life experience and earn some money for his family.
    The tiny takeaway store has barely enough room for its few staff members to stand and does not feature a sitting area.
    Yet Zhu has high hopes for both his business investment and logo.
    "I think Obama has a great smile. He looks kind. I hope he can bring my small shop some good fortune, like a money god," he said.
    Zhu, who designed the logo, admitted he is an Obama fan. But he also said the idea of using the U.S. President as his mascot was an afterthought.
    "When I designed the logo, I thought I would make a simple design using Photoshop. Maybe I worship Obama a bit too much. So as I drew, the logo looked more and more like Obama. I didn't draw him intentionally," Zhu said.
    Located in a school district, the store is popular among high school and university students who would pop in, grab a few fried chicken burgers, and head back during short breaks.
    Although images of the sign have gone viral on the internet, local residents seem to find it nothing out of the ordinary.
    "He's imitating KFC. He has replaced KFC's old man logo with Obama and the name with something else. He's just copying other people's ideas. In terms of creativity ... well, I think he's just copying. Does this count as piracy?" 20-year-old student Ren Hetian said.
    Zhu decided to tear the sign down yesterday evening due to "pressure from local authorities." He refused to speak further on camera about the sign.
    A small piece of the original bright red banner is left hanging, while the previous shop's sign that says "public bath" is revealed.
    Li Shao, Zhu's schoolmate who helps out in the shop, insisted that he knows nothing about the sign's removal.
    "Gosh! Whether removing the sign is sad or not has nothing to do with me. I don't have any special feelings. I'm only a shopkeeper, so I have nothing to do with it," Li said.
    Although the sign's removal would probably discourage further media attention, most customers do not appear to care whether they are buying chicken under an Obama smile or a public bath sign.
    Nor do they seem to care whether the shop -- whose logo once suggested finger-lickin' good chicken -- would deliver its promise.
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