Outcry after Johannesburg cafe uses sexual harassment as a marketing gimmick.
A Johannesburg cafe’s attempt to promote its dinner menu through a provocative social media campaign has sparked debate about gender-based violence (GBV), sexual harassment and whether brands are crossing the line when using sensitive issues for engagement.
The original post by Naked Coffee, based in Illovo, Johannesburg, was framed as an “open letter” to a customer who allegedly made repeated comments about “sausage” towards a waiter.
“Sexual advances towards our staff will not be tolerated. An open letter to the customer who kept asking our waiter about sausage at Naked Illovo After Dark at approximately 7pm,” Naked Coffee posted.
The cafe said the comments were directed at the same waiter and that the employee’s identity would remain confidential.
