The First Female Colonel Sanders: How Casting Reba affected KFC
KFC chose Reba McEntire to be the first woman to play the iconic role of Colonel Sanders in their ad campaign running from January to April of 2018.
Although KFC insists this was a political move, and the spokesperson for KFC claims that they “have always maintained that anyone, male or female, who embodies the spirit of the colonel is qualified to play [the colonel].”
There has been a mixed reaction from people of all demographics to the decision to cast Reba in the campaign.
From proud feminists:
https://twitter.com/clinicallychill/status/972975962613743617
Finally, women have broken the fried ceiling. Congratulations @reba
— Mary Williams Barber (@therealMaryKat) January 26, 2018
To women calling for different types of gender equality:
Happy #InternationalWomensDay to KFC colonel @reba, which is as close as we're getting to having a woman as president for now, at least. pic.twitter.com/WJ4pGveqmy
— Parker Molloy (@ParkerMolloy) March 8, 2018
https://twitter.com/alibakerevans/status/960899460892065792
To men calling for the return of traditional gender roles:
Twitterverse seems in love with the idea of the world's first female Colonel Sanders. Has the world gone completely mad? I remember the outrage & backlash of a woman Santa Claus years ago at Eastland Mall in Evansville but today that would be celebrated.
— Delta Foxtrot (@Delta_J_Foxtrot) January 26, 2018
To people who don’t think this was a feminist victory after all:
It appears the new KFC commercial is themed around the idea Reba needs to pretend to be a man in order to sell her new smokey hot wings and sings: 'I am not a woman…'
So definitely a win for feminism.
— Chad Felix Greene (@chadfelixg) January 31, 2018
No matter what your opinion was on the casting choice, KFC got more people tweeting about them than ever before.
After Reba’s contract ended, they tapped a previous actor, George Hamilton, to reprise his role as the Colonel for the “Extra Crispy” campaign. According to Hamilton, he has “no clue” why KFC wants him back and that “They’ll probably call [Reba] tomorrow and tell her ‘we’ve had enough of George, we want Reba back.”
The message for your brand? Don’t be afraid to take risks.
