This probably goes down as the greatest publicity stunt I've seen a major company do in quite some time. At the same time, it paints quite a sad and seriously worrying picture of security at U.N. headquarters.
National Post wrote:UNITED NATIONS -- Red-faced United Nations officials on Monday admitted to a major security lapse after a UN guard helped Kentucky Fried Chicken's "Colonel Sanders" gain access to restricted areas.
The guard escorted the white-suited intruder past security barriers, where he got a handshake from the UN General Assembly president, Dr. Ali A. Treki of Libya.
The faux fast food chain founder also posed for a picture beneath the assembly's giant UN logo, which overlooks the spot where world leaders address their international counterparts.
"It should not have happened -- that I will stress, and very strongly," said Michele Montas, spokeswoman for UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon.
"There was some lapse in security and the individual in question . . . was, on the initiative of one security guard, taken . . . into the UN."
The real Harland "Colonel" Sanders typically wore a white suit and string bow tie, but he has been dead since 1980.
Ms. Montas said security officials, many of whom are brought in from overseas, were "still trying to find out exactly what happened."
The incident last Thursday apparently was part of a publicity stunt by the fast food chain, which is seeking to promote its grilled alternative to its signature fried chicken. It had dispatched the Sanders look-alike, identified by KFC as Robert Thompson, and also wrote to Mr. Ban.
Ms. Montas warned the UN could take legal action against the company, whose letter, signed by KFC president Roger Eaton, asked that the secretary general register the "Grilled Nation" of grilled chicken eaters as the 193rd UN member state.
"That letter is absolutely void to us; it has no meaning whatsoever," Ms. Montas said. "The UN cannot be involved in a commercial venture. Period. This is being touched upon by our legal department."
Mr. Treki, who introduced world leaders at the recent General Assembly summit, posed with the Sanders look-alike in a lounge area frequented by diplomats and government leaders.
"I wouldn't call that a meeting," bristled Jean-Victor Nkolo, Mr. Treki's spokesman after a reporter asked if he could confirm the two had "met."
"There was no meeting. No appointment scheduled with the actor impersonating Colonel Sanders . . . there was a brief encounter with the president of the General Assembly."
Mr. Nkolo said Mr. Treki shook the impersonator's hand because "he's a very polite man."
UN TV crews eventually raised the alarm after being stunned when the impersonator approached cameras set up for diplomats, and began making claims about the extent of the "Grilled Nation." At that point, additional security guards arrived and escorted him from the building.
I haven't had KFC in years, but I'm definitely interested in getting some of this chicken now
As you may have heard, KFC’s “Grilled Nation,” the number of people that have tried our new Kentucky Grilled Chicken (KGC), currently boasts a population of 60 million strong -- and growing.
That means that today, Grilled Nation boasts as many “citizens” as the 24th most-populated nation on Earth – thanks to the out-of-this-world taste of KGC!
As the organization known for recognizing nations, we kindly request that you give Grilled Nation “a seat at the United Nation’s table” in the name of delicious diplomacy.
Yes, our “nation” is only a little over five months old. However, of the 192 Member States that currently make up the UN, we don’t think that any one of them can bring the world to the (dinner) table the way the Colonel can.
As Secretary-General, you have pledged to build a “stronger United Nations for a better world.” We at KFC are confident that recognizing Grilled Nation will strengthen your organization and satisfy the stomachs of your many Member States.
While we realize that incorporating Grilled Nation into the UN is a long shot, we hoped to possibly squeeze a chair in between Grenada and Guatemala. We promise to make sure the mashed potatoes get passed to folks from all Member States.
In an effort to help the UN “UNThink” your typical lunch routine, we are offering free grilled chicken on Oct. 22 outside of the United Nation’s International Headquarters. All we ask is that you call a “special one-hour recess” and allow UN workers and visitors to come join Grilled Nation via a free sample of Kentucky Grilled Chicken.
We’re confident that giving Grilled Nation a seat at the UN’s table will help citizens of all nations “UNThink” their typical lunch routine.
Warm Regards,
Roger Eaton
President of KFC
Citizen of Grilled Nation
When I read this story in the Tampa Bay Times on Friday, I just shook my head and laughed at the UN's wasting time to help KFC pimp a grilled chicken campaign. Now that I know it was a Rickroll, I'm laughing my ass off!
The only people who were safe were the legion; after one of their AT-ATs got painted dayglo pink with scarlet go faster stripes, they identified the perpetrators and exacted revenge. - Eleventh Century Remnant
Ok. I admit it. This stunt just made me want some Grilled Chicken......
Seriously, WTF was security doing?
Let him land on any Lyran world to taste firsthand the wrath of peace loving people thwarted by the myopic greed of a few miserly old farts- Katrina Steiner
I can't believe KFC pulled this off. On the face of it it looks like a monumentally stupid plan bound to fail and then this happens.
I wonder what the security guard's rationale was, too. Did he just let 'Sanders' in as a visitor? Did they present themselves as an actual delegation? Was he in on it?
At least if the UN kicks him out he should have a new job lined up
Well you can go quite a long way simply by acting as if you know what you are doing, having a face that the guard propbably vaguely remembered would have been useful to.
I thought Roman candles meant they were imported. - Kelly Bundy
12 yards long, two lanes wide it's 65 tons of American pride, Canyonero! - Simpsons
Support the KKK environmental program - keep the Arctic white!
The easiest way to sneak into a place is to assume an air of absolute confidence and look like you're meant to be there. The hard part is actually having the moxie to pull it off.
The easiest way to sneak into a place is to assume an air of absolute confidence and look like you're meant to be there. The hard part is actually having the moxie to pull it off.
It's also really easy to mess up if you actually try to accomplish something like an assassination or sabotage after getting in, because so few people have the character necessary to assume this stance of absolute confidence when they're mentally preparing to shoot someone. And it really stands out in a crowd.
It's far easier to get somewhere if you're just playing a prank, because you know there's not going to be any real consequences to your stunt. Seriously, what would've happened to Colonel Sanders? He'd be escorted out, spend a few days in jail at worst, maybe a fine that KFC would pay for him. Nobody would shoot him/capture and interrogate him for intelligence.
JULY 20TH 1969 - The day the entire world was looking up
It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was the Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth. I didn't feel like a giant. I felt very, very small. - NEIL ARMSTRONG, MISSION COMMANDER, APOLLO 11
Signature dedicated to the greatest achievement of mankind.
MILDLY DERANGED PHYSICIST does not mind BREAKING the SOUND BARRIER, because it is INSURED. - Simon_Jester considering the problems of hypersonic flight for Team L.A.M.E.
Not even that - if the guard let him in, it's that guard who took responsibility for 'Sanders' being there. There is no rule that say you can't walk up to a guard and ask to be let in; it's his job to check your credentials and show you the door.
If they'd used fake ID's it'd be a different matter, but from what I can tell this was just a simple bluff.
This reminds me of a truism I've seen in action more than once; carry a clipboard and look serious, you'll be able to go anywhere. A few buddies of mine were curious once as to what the inside of a local city government office looked like. A few days later one of them walked in with a tie on and a clipboard in hand, right past the security guard, who nodded at him without question, right past the front desk, where the secretary smiled at him, looked around for five minutes, and walked back out. Nobody looked at him twice. He then broke down laughing the moment we met up with him.
Now I imagine that there was nothing super vital that they were protecting in there, and he did leave very quickly, but the fact that he was able to walk in and out of the building with no more than a hello and a nod strikes me as hilarious.
1980s Rock is to music what Giant Robot shows are to anime
Think about it.
Cruising low in my N-1 blasting phat beats,
showin' off my chrome on them Coruscant streets
Got my 'saber on my belt and my gat by side,
this here yellow plane makes for a sick ride
I wonder if KFC could somehow exploit the obvious "grilled in action" gag that is in there or if that would be "insensitive" to KIAs.
However, this tactic allways works. In fact the only times i wasn´t let into discos was when some idiot friend walked up to the bouncer and asked if he´d let us in. If you just walk past the bouncer, maybe nod at him or say hello, and up to the money collector and stamp giver as if it´s totally clear that you belong into this disco you never have trouble.
That's why you should test your security guards by pulling the "serious looking person with clipboard"-stunt at them yourself.
SoS:NBAGALE Force "Destiny and fate are for those too weak to forge their own futures. Where we are 'supposed' to be is irrelevent." - Sir Nitram
"The world owes you nothing but painful lessons" - CaptainChewbacca
"The mark of the immature man is that he wants to die nobly for a cause, while the mark of a mature man is that he wants to live humbly for one." - Wilhelm Stekel
"In 1969 it was easier to send a man to the Moon than to have the public accept a homosexual" - Broomstick Divine Administration - of Gods and Bureaucracy (Worm/Exalted)
I remember a clip where a guy claimed to be a DJ and was able to get in almost anywhere, including getting past a road toll booth (though that might have been the operator having a sense of humor). The only place he was denied was when he tried getting on a bus without paying fare.
salm wrote:I wonder if KFC could somehow exploit the obvious "grilled in action" gag that is in there or if that would be "insensitive" to KIAs.
However, this tactic allways works. In fact the only times i wasn´t let into discos was when some idiot friend walked up to the bouncer and asked if he´d let us in. If you just walk past the bouncer, maybe nod at him or say hello, and up to the money collector and stamp giver as if it´s totally clear that you belong into this disco you never have trouble.
Heh.. it's the same way at work.
Walk around with a purposeful stride and a sheaf of paper in your hand, and you can literally goof off most of the day.
Of course I don't do it all that often because getting 'busted' would cost me my problem solver's position which gives me the freedom to wander around in the first place.
Absent that, I'd be holding a swift gun attaching price tags to sweaters.
"You say that it is your custom to burn widows. Very well. We also have a custom: when men burn a woman alive, we tie a rope around their necks and we hang them. Build your funeral pyre; beside it, my carpenters will build a gallows. You may follow your custom. And then we will follow ours."- General Sir Charles Napier
When I was doing environmental work, I came up with the winning combination for instant access anywhere; A hardhat, a vest, and a metal clipboard. If you not only have that, but another hardhat/vest guy behind you carrying YOUR gear, you're obviously important and not to be messed with. I got past the secure zone at the California state capitol building that way.
Stuart: The only problem is, I'm losing track of which universe I'm in.
You kinda look like Jesus. With a lightsaber.- Peregrin Toker
Even better is to have "Official" written across the vest (it's only really one step below Police), seriously Social Engineering is easy as pie with the way people are conditioned to authority... clipboards, helmets, papers, scanners aren't even necessary, just an air of authority that you belong wherever you are... someone questions your right to do something you question their right to ask, if they're doing their job they know they're in the right, if they just don't want to make a scene is where you get success.
All people are equal but some people are more equal than others.
Grif wrote:Don't they have ID checks and shit like that at the UN?
You would be shocked at just how far "Acting like you belong" can get you. Often when someone checks your ID they are just glancing. If the card looks at a glance like it's official and has your picture on it then often people will just accept it.
For I dipt into the future, far as human eye could see,
Saw the Vision of the world, and all the wonder that would be;
Saw the heavens fill with commerce, argosies of magic sails,
Pilots of the purple twilight dropping down with costly bales;
Heard the heavens fill with shouting, and there rain'd a ghastly dew
From the nations' airy navies grappling in the central blue;
I won't be surprised that the guards are so used to handling people with diplomatic immunity that they are afraid of asking too much or doing too much for fear of offending people.
STGOD: Byzantine Empire Your spirit, diseased as it is, refuses to allow you to give up, no matter what threats you face... and whatever wreckage you leave behind you.
Kreia
It's even easier with pre-WWII soldiers who have been conditioned to obey all authority. See Wilhelm Voight.
And if you want to lose a few hours of your life, here the TVTropes link: Bavarian Fire Drill.
Robert Gilruth to Max Faget on the Apollo program: “Max, we’re going to go back there one day, and when we do, they’re going to find out how tough it is.”
At the same time, it paints quite a sad and seriously worrying picture of security at U.N. headquarters.
