Though it denies any involvement, an Ethiopian restaurant on the edge of Atlanta is being pilloried for using a “disrespectful” and vulgar flier to promote their event that ostensibly celebrates Martin Luther King Jr’s birthday.
Mela Restaurant & Lounge, which is located in Decatur, Ga., is the object of scorn and ridicule for having the unmitigated gall to market their MLK Day event Saturday, Jan. 18, using an obscene flier of late legendary freedom fighters MLK and Rosa Parks. The AI-doctored photos featured the heads of Parks and MLK transposed on the bodies of scantily-clad lovers engaging in a sex act.
Worse, the flier was captioned, “He Scared of the Puss.”
The reprehensible flier eventually caught the attention of Atlanta businessman Arthur Watkins Jr. The attorney posted the image while sending a warning to Mela to immediately cease and desist from the use of the objectionable image to benefit the restaurant.
The grotesque image revealed in the warning letter
“I have just sent an urgent email to Bernice King, the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., regarding a derogatory misuse of Dr. King’s image at Mela Restaurant and Lounge,” Watkins penned on X.
“The use of his likeness in this context is deeply disrespectful and warrants attention,” Watkins continued. “Dr. King’s legacy is one of dignity, justice, and equality, and we must all work to protect it.”
A similar email was reportedly sent to King’s daughter, Bernice King, CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change in Atlanta, imploring her to address this expeditiously in order to halt “further misuse” by the restaurant.
Once the restaurant was put on blast, the restaurant assured the public it did not authorize nor endorse the flier.
“The team at Mela ATL does not condone or support the use of any flyer that misrepresents or disrespects the legacies of Rosa Parks and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.,” the restaurant owners said in a statement on their Instagram page. “We believe in honoring these icons with the dignity and respect they deserve and stand against any form of inappropriate or harmful imagery.”
Despite distancing themselves from this cultural debacle, the restaurant still found itself in the crosshairs of the public’s righteous indignation.
The public excoriated the restaurant owners
“@iamcharleyatl still has a party flyer collage with the disrespectful flyer attached amongst other events and your establishment name on it,” said one IG user in the comments section of the company’s IG page.
“And another thing… this is why DELINEATION is important. The melanated owners of this establishment are NOT Black American. This is why they allowed their name to be featured on such DISGUSTING promo materials,” said a second respondent.
A third person was practically spitting fire while writing, “Biggest mistake you ever made business-wise. You have successfully poked the bear.”
A fourth person said the eatery and lounge is simply trying to cover its tracks now that it’s been exposed. “Dishonest company and establishment. You have used that atrocious promoter for several events connected to your company. I would never patronize this business 🗑️🚮,” the person penned.
“That flyer said “Mela Saturdays Presents” at the top, with your address at the bottom, and there’s no connection? 🤔,” a fifth person observed.
