‘Fat people are harder to kidnap’ Pizza restaurant’s billboard causes controversy
BARBERTON, Ohio (WJW/CNN/Meredith) — A pizza restaurant owner is taking down a sign he made that pokes fun at overweight people.
He didn’t get objection from them, but another implication of the message made him think twice.
Jeremy Clemetson has owned his pizza store in Barberton, Ohio for 14 years.
He said he enjoys weaving humor into his advertising.
“I thought it would be a good idea to put up some funny signs,” he said. “Most people seem to like them.”
Signs that say things like “Now hiring, must show up,” “If it’s not there in 30 minutes, move closer” and “Free box with every pizza.”
“I scour the internet for different signs that people have had,” Clemetson said. “Sometimes I use them, sometimes I reinvent my own. I also have got some of my funny signs from customers.”
His latest billboard says “Fat people are harder to kidnap.”
It’s a slogan he previously had on the sign outside of his shop for several weeks and on his Facebook page without a single objection.
Some customers even thought it was “cool as ever.”
“We pulled in and I saw it and I pointed to Judi, I was laughing and I said ‘Judi that is fantastic.’”
“I don’t see it offensive, they are just advertising and trying to get people to notice them,” nearby resident Judi Julsi said.
But Clemetson said he took the store sign down after an email was sent to corporate headquarters, complaining it was in poor taste considering it was National Human Trafficking Awareness Month.
“I never even thought about it in that way, and as soon as I thought about it, because kidnapping is not a joke, we are taking it down,” Clemetson said.Customer demands require complex solutions.Explore new business models based on integrated partner ecosystems that infuse financial services throughout customers’ daily lives.Ad By IBMSee More
The response on Fox 8’s Facebook page has been overwhelming.
Some responses support the store’s use of the sign, while others can see how it can be offensive.
“I think a lot of people are going to be offended by it, but I don’t think its a big deal,” resident Emma Bair said. “It’s advertising.”
The slogan has been used for years on popular T-shirts and advertising for a hotel chain buffet. It is even the name of a Facebook page.
Clemetson said he never meant the sign to be offensive and is sensitive to the objections.
“I have seven kids of my own. I’m from the community here, I’ve lived here pretty much all of my life,” Clemeston said. “I live in Barberton, I have strong roots here. I never even thought about it as the kidnapping aspect, I just meant it to be funny.”
Clemetson said it will probably take a couple of days for the billboard to come down.
Photo Credit: kmov.com
He had a really big change of heart and I think him having kids hit him harder. While the joke was kinda light hearted and funny and many saw it that way. Some didn’t because people lost their kids to kidnapping and other ways. Good job on him.