Magic Johnson’s remembrance of the King of Pop’s love for Kentucky Fried Chicken, delivered at the Michael Jackson Memorial service, was a touching tribute to some, but has been criticized as crass commercialism and product placement by others.
Some cite promotional ties between KFC and Magic Johnson (Magic Johnson Criticized for MJ KFC Story).
Commenters on YouTube and elsewhere allege Michael Jackson was vegetarian and therefore could not be a fan of KFC.
evegotch wrote:
Michael Jackson WAS a devoted vegetarian. Magic Johnson is a money-grubbing LIAR!
todnyc wrote:
He’s not exaggerating–he’s actually just flat out LYING about that even happening at all, because anyone …read more

Magic Johnson is drawing criticism from some who claim he used Michael Jackson’s eulogy to pitch Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC).
In the post KFC: Paid Plug at Michael Jackson Memorial? I noted that some commenters are alleging that Magic Johnson’s prior ties to KFC prompted him to include a story of Michael Jackson’s love for Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) in Magic’s eulogy at the pop star’s memorial service.
One commenter YouTube wrote:
Shameless advertising! … Magic starred in a KFC commercial in the late 90s… Unbelievable that some people fell for it! This is the beginning of my KFC boycott! Totally disgraceful
The commercial …read more

Was Magic Johnson’s KFC story at Michael Jackson’s memorial a paid product placement?
Magic Johnson received three NBA MVP Awards, appeared in twelve All-Star games and won an Olympic gold medal as a member of the USA “Dream Team.“  In 1996, he was named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History.  In 2002, he was enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame.
Yet the greatest moment of Magic Johnson’s  life was when he learned Michael Jackson ate Kentucky Fried Chicken?
While Magic’s KFC anecdote during a eulogy at Michael Jackson’s memorial service struck me as bizarre (what MJ-related news isn’t bizarre?), …read more

Activist groups love to denounce YUM Brands’ KFC for everything from not killing delicious chickens more politely before we eat them, to making us fat after we eat them.
Let’s see if anyone gives KFC a little credit for immediately lashing out against the racist propaganda called “Obama Bucks” distributed by a California Republican group named the Chaffey Community Republican Women Federation.  The asinine graphic, which appeared in the group’s newsletter,  depicts a phony foodstamp depicting Presidential candidate Barack Obama, a bucket of KFC chicken, a slab of ribs, Kool-Aid, a slice of watermelon and the words “Obama Bucks.”
A story in …read more