“That’s how I wanted it”: controversy over the use of Duque’s mistake in advertising a renowned restaurant

So I saw it. That’s how I met him. That’s how I wanted it ”.

The Diction error by President Duque during the tribute to the late Defense Minister Carlos Holmes Trujillo, last Wednesday, January 27, became, in a few hours, a trend that aroused all kinds of comments, criticisms, memes, stickers and even advertisements on social networks.

It was precisely this last play, made by the Colombian account of the KFC restaurant chain, which generated the most controversy During this day, then, he ended up using a modulated version of the president’s words, offered in a moment of mourning, on a background of images of breaded chicken, precisely to promote his product.

It didn’t take long for the video ad, which was accompanied by the phrase “When the #KFC chick comes to your house … you can only say #asiloqueri”, became virtual on Twitter; and even less so that reactions, criticisms and calls for respect were raised for the difficult time they are going through, both the family of the head of the Defense portfolio, as well as the presidential cabinet.

“I don’t care what they say, this seems very offensive and cruel to me! Respect people’s mourning a little, ”said journalist Pia Wohlgemuth on the social network. “Although it was funny for a moment, it already becomes disrespectful and more coming from a brand that is not national,” said Felipe Medina. “Taking advantage of a mistake in an emotional moment (that could have happened to anyone) to advertise is not being ‘clever’. It is not like that.”, Sofía Orozco sentenced. Even Vicky Dávila, from Semana, reacted to the publicity by asking: “Please respect the grief, please respect the pain of death.”

For other users, of course, it was simply a comic moment and even an interesting and effective advertising proposal. “I am watching the KFC trill riding the wave of #asiloqueri. I think it is a milestone and goes beyond results in digital metrics. For me it is an indicator of reputation alert that should be taken into account by the center of Bogotá. I don’t remember content like this, ”said a person identified as Andrés Segura. “It’s kind of funny, but it’s not disrespectful or“ offensive ”, it’s creative. All of Colombia enjoyed it! Duque himself should laugh at himself, and let it go, ”added another person named Karen López.

The wave of comments, of course, forced the restaurant’s Colombian account to remove the video before the issue became older. However, it managed to get about 3,800 likes and at least 1,500 shares before disappearing from Twitter. It should be added that neither the Presidency of the Republic nor the North American network have made any pronouncement on the curious incident.

Those who did were those in charge of the social networks of the Royal Spanish Academy, RAE, who when asked by a user of the same network about the conjugation of the verb ‘want’, responded that President Duque’s mistake —which can happen to anyone— is just that and nothing more.

“The past perfect simple indicative of the verb «want» is irregular: «wanted, wanted, wanted …». Therefore, the correct form of the first person singular is «wanted», not * «wanted»: «That’s how I wanted it» ”, was the response of the institution that ensures the correct use of the Spanish language.

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