Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) chains KFC and Pizza Hut have both apologised after they faced an outrage on social media over posts from the twitter handles of their franchises in Pakistan supporting Kashmiri separatists.
Several screenshots of posts by KFC Pakistan surfaced online in which the fast-food chain had claimed support for "Kashmir Solidarity Day".
In a social media post, a verified account of KFC had supported the separatists in Kashmir and posted "Kashmir belongs to Kashmiris."
Similarly, an Instagram post from the verified account of 'Pizzahutpak' had said, "We stand with you. Kashmir Solidarity Day."
This triggered a huge backlash as #BoycottKFC and #BoycottPizzaHut started trending on Twitter after which both fast-food chains issued statements to apologise and distance themselves from their Pakistani counterparts.
"We deeply apologize for a post that was published on some KFC social media channels outside the country. We honour and respect India, and remain steadfast in our commitment to serving all Indians with pride," according to a message on KFC India official account on Twitter.
Pizza Hut, in its statement, said "it does not condone, support or agree with the contents of a post circulating in social media. We remain steadfast in our commitment to serve all our brothers and sisters with pride."
The posts of KFC and Pizza Hut have been deleted after the social media outrage. Both companies are subsidiaries of US-based Yum! Brands that also owns Taco Bell.
The incident follows a similar backlash that Hyundai Motors faced on Sunday on social media after a Twitter account of a Hyundai dealer in Pakistan with the handle @hyundaiPakistanOfficial had posted a message supporting Kashmir Solidarity day.
Following the post, #BoycottHyundai trended on Twitter in India with many users urging people to stop buying the company's cars in the country.
Hyundai India then clarified that it had "zero tolerance" to such communication and added that the said post was “offending its commitment" to India and that it strongly condemned any such view. The South Korean company is the second biggest car manufacturer in India next only to market leader Maruti Suzuki.
Also read: Hyundai Motor in line of fire after its Pakistani arm backs independent Kashmir
