Photo: Ilco at stock.xchg
Pizza Patrón, a pizza chain headquartered in Dallas, will be giving away a free large pepperoni pizza on Tuesday, June 5 from 5pm to 8pm. What is the catch? People will have to order the pizza in Spanish. It can be broken Spanish. It can be first-time Spanish. You can say “Quiero Pizza”, “Pizza por favor” or however you want but it has to be in Spanish.
What is the big deal? The promotion comes at a time when immigration reform is hot topic with many people. Critics of the promotion are coming from outside and within the Latino community.
“Maybe they thought it was a cute thing to do, but I think it’s discrimination,” says Marcela Gomez, president of Hispanic Marketing Group, a Latino marketing firm in Nashville. “As an advertising agency, I would never recommend this to my client.” Some believe Pizza Patrón is forcing people to speak another language.
The franchise is no stranger to controversy, in 2007 they did a promotion that it would start accepting (and still does) Mexican pesos. That drew international attention and some of their executives received some death threats.
Seriously, death threats because of pizza?
Andrew Gamm, brand director at Pizza Patrón claims that it’s trying to bond with its Latino community as its customer base is 70 percent is Spanish-speaking.
It seems a bit silly to make such a big deal about saying “Por favor” to get some free pizza.
About Irma Sanchez
Some may see it as innocent promotion and become confused why others would get mad, but It is still discrimination. If it was the other way around (must speak English to receive deal), immigrant activist groups would be screaming “Xenophobia, Racism, etc.” Further, it opens the door to non-Latinos trying to receive the deal only to be told they did not speak Spanish properly by some idiot employee tired of giving away free pizza and thus a second possibility of discrimination. This idea is bad all around.
Not Discrimination. No more discriminatory then asking someone to say the majic word “Please”. Or asking someone winning a prize on the radio to tell you what “the phrase that pays” is. COME ON PEOPLE!!! Are you for real Mr. Ruiz and Ms. Gomez? The rules are the same for all and if you don’t like it–THEN DON’T GET PIZZA AT FRIGGIN PATRON PIZZA. Jeeze louise. SMDH. All you scaredy cats out there–so focused on how everyone’s gonna react–RELAX. It’s just pizza.
So maybe people need to learn how to order a pizza in Spanish so they can stfu. lol
Lmfao thats funny
Yo quiero Dominoes por favor? lol
I do not speak Spanish – but I speak free translation.com and ask one of my friends.org so that I can get a free pie. Who gets mad about a cute promo like that? If they said Italian would that be an issue?
Que rico pizza right now!!!
how about free pizza day in any language? Though I have to say, if they said free pizza if you order in french, I’d just babble it and learn how.
Those who oppose need to learn Spanish; it ll benefit them as Latinos are taking over and with that, bilingualism is becoming a necessity; not a luxury
I have to stop reading this when I’m hungry.
Why does it only have to be Dallas?? What about south Texas? Hello???
That’s stupid. I didn’t serve my AMERICAN country to have to order in Spanish. Learn the English language or get left behind
what is wrong with saying “Por Favor”, it just means please. They are not asking for a complicated phrase.
I pride myself in being Bi-Lingual, I’m glad my father taught me to read, write and speak Spanish! I get really annoyed with Latinos that refuse to speak Spanish! Have pride in your heritage and your language. Keep in mind that many Americans want to learn to speak Spanish and wish they knew it…..of course this way they know what we are saying about them. LOL!!
@ Anthony Medina.whats wrong with the hispanic community promoting the Spanish culture? There is nothimg wrong when it comes to unification within the latino culture.
They also accept pesos *gasps*
This the biggest bullsh** all is fair when $ is involved those scumbags will even put mango toppings piña we are a huge economic power they don’t want us to order else where
Yo go denitria
Most of these franchises do accept pesos there all over Latin America
it isn’t fair. but its awesome! jajajajaaaa
What a fantastic idea. Me gusta mucho.:)
It’s perfectly FAIR because anyone can choose to learn a 2nd language though most don’t (like the ignorant Max Medina). Te chingaste solito Max!!!
@ANTHONY MEDINA – LOL. I served my country enough to know that anybody can do as they see fit. That includes NOT speaking spanish and not ordering from thatpizza parlor. And apparently you have your sorry ass saying backwards. YOU learn to be multi talented or you get left behind. That has obviously been tried and true with so many other nations. Their people are well educated and multi lingual and here we are stupid enough (and proudly so) to keep saying “My Amurikka” – way to go lap dog to the status quo!
Maybe we shouldn’t be eating their pizza at all. Who owns pizza patron and what is their record of affiliations and donations?
It’s funny how the same people who have NO problems discriminating against Latinos, are probably the 1st ones to cry foul over something this simple!
Its his business. Dont like it go somewhere else or learn spanish
Ah you just knew so jerk off would come on here and say they shouldn’t have to say anything in Spanish in America.
Well in America you can do or not do anything you wish. Like hold a Spanish promotion to get a free pizza. Also in America, you don’t have to call any place in Spanish and not get a free pizza. See how easy that is. Only in America. The land of the free to do whatever you wish to do.
Something gta make u learn
No problem. I like free food, and when they go out of business. HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA