Popeyes ‘Emotional Support Chicken' | Funny or Offensive?

There has been a lot of questions, concerns, and discussions in the news lately about "emotional support animals" and "service animals" being allowed on flights. Should the dogs be limited to certain breeds? Should Emotional Support Animals even be allowed? Should they have to prove they are legitimate? Should Emotional Support Animals be limited to certain kinds of animals? Should they be certified? Should the handler have to prove their disability?

But according to David Grinder at adweek no one has stopped to ask: Should they be deep fried? 

Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen fast food restaurant, known for their Louisiana style fried chicken, within Terminal C at the Philadelphia International Airport (the only location currently offering the Emotional Support Chicken), has answered that question, with their "Emotional Support Chicken", only available for a limited time, while supplies last.

“We know holiday travel can be frustrating, and there’s no better way to ease stress than with a box of delicious Popeyes fried chicken and a good laugh,” according to Hope Diaz, the company’s chief marketing officer, in a press release.

The "Emotional Support Chicken" is labeled in big, bold letters, and has an entertaining description printed on the front: "This chicken provides comfort and nourishment during stressful air travel. Unlike other chicken, it is marinated in real Louisiana spices for 12 hours and must be permitted to fly without restriction. Do not leave unattended, as Popeyes is not responsible for lost or stolen chicken." The Emotional Support Chicken is available with the three-piece tenders combo.

The Popeyes brand admits it is poking some fun at the recent events that have been in the news around emotional support animals, which some see as an anxiety-reducing boon, while others see as taking advantage of a loophole to bring just about any animal on board an airplane without transporting them through the official channels. While many others, such as ourselves see them as a danger and an insult to legitimate Service Animal Teams, and Emotional Support Animals.

"We appreciate how comforting emotional support animals are and wanted to create our own version," Diaz said in the statement. "The good news is that our emotional support chicken is permitted to fly without any restrictions – one less worry for busy travelers!”

While many people find these "Emotional Support Chicken" as just a funny marketing scheme to get people to buy their chicken, many others find it as offensive, especially in lue of the recent rise in fake Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals, putting those of us with legit working animals at risk.

An untrained animal can distract a legitimate Service Animal from doing their job, causing them to miss critical signs their handler may need them. Which can have life threatening consequences for the handler.

Looking from the outside in we can see how many people who are not really familiar with the disabled community, and how vital legit Service Animals and Emotional Support Animals are to those of us with physical and mental disabilities, can sit there and wonder so what's the big deal? It's just a box right? Or might call us snowflakes for being offended by the Emotional Support Chicken.

But those of us who rely on these animals every day to just get by see this as another way for society to dismiss and reduce us and our legitimate service animals as fakers. 

What do you think? Insult to legit Service Animal teams or just a funny marketing scheme?

Make sure you find out the difference between legitimate Service Animals Vs. Emotional Support Animals Vs. Therapy Animals before deciding!

Griner, D. (2018, December 18). Popeyes Is Offering 'Emotional Support Chicken' to Help Comfort Holiday Travelers. Retrieved December 18, 2018, from https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/popeyes-is...