Influencer claps back at KFC for mocking her stammer
Influencer Jessie Yendle stands up for people who stammer after KFC Macedonia’s Instagram account used a video of her stammering for their promotional ads.
Social media star Jessie has gained over 3.5million followers with her posts about living with a stammer, and the daily challenges and barriers she faces. Under the tag @Mimidarlingbeauty, her videos raise awareness of things like phoning companies and ordering at drive thru restaurants.
One clip of Jessie talking in a TV interview, however, was used by the official KFC Macedonia Instagram account to promote one of their offers. In the video, which has now been pulled from their social media, the fast food brand's Macedonian account used footage of Jessie saying "I just want to say" before leading into their advert. As Jessie was stammering in the clip, we can only assume it was used for comic effect.
"I don't think that they realise the true damage they've done," said Jessie in an interview with Good Morning Britain earlier today (watch it below). "I've been seen over 4 million times. It breaks my heart and it makes me wonder if we’re going to be having this conversation once again." Jessie said, referring to a separate incident this September, when the German football team Borussia Dortmund pulled a video on their social media which appeared to mock Jessie's TikToks. They apologised and invited Jessie to Germany in January to talk to her face to face about it.
"It's gone too far now, it really has.
Jessie added, "It's gone too far now, it really has. It's just part of me, you know? It's just part of me. And obviously with the videos that these brands are using, it makes you look like I'm just my speech impediment, and I'm so much more than that".
In a statement, KFC apologised for the video and said, "We want to make clear that this behaviour is not tolerated".
Later, Jessie took to social media to give a defiant message. She wrote:
“If you laughed or mocked my stutter… I'm talking to you @kfc @kfcmakedonija. NOTHING should ever be a TREND if it's disrespecting & discriminating a disability, race, gender, sexuality or religion. So I'm shining a light with this post as I represent the millions of people who stammer.
Jessie pointed out to brands that use videos to mock people who stammer they're most likely offending a whole section of their customers: "The stigma is REAL and I guess you top dogs can carry on promoting your brand at my expense but remember your athletes, customers, staff members & the young people who look up to you may also stammer as there's 70-80 MILLION of us in this incredible community".
Signing off with a message for others who stammer, Jessie wrote, "And so this post is for ANYONE who's been belittled, bullied, mocked or judged. BE YOUR UNAPOLOGETIC AUTHENTIC SELF in this very short life, you're one in a million. Don't let them steal that sparkle you radiate like nobody else".
Have you been treated badly recently because you stammer? Fill in the form on our STAMMA Advocacy Service page, and we'll aim to do something about it.
More
- Read more about Jessie in her article 'I'm passionate for change'
- Become a STAMMA member for free: help us to stand up for people who stammer.
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