Death Row Dinner rethinks restaurant concept after receiving backlash in social media.
The pop-up diners club aims to explore the macabre without the "nasty execution bit." The concept received negative feedback as the restaurant's Twitter is flooded by criticisms and call for them to abort the idea. Some calls the idea as a bad taste and glamorizes the death row.
The controversial restaurant uses the concept of last meal of death row prisoners for their menu and theme. The United Kingdom-based pop-up diner plans to bring a group of 80 diners every night to experience a night behind bars where the "prison chefs" will serve them a five-course meal influenced by the interesting and popular "last meals." The "meal ticket" costs £50.00.
"Prepare to be charged, sentenced, searched and frisked," posted on the website. Many are angered by the marketing ploy of the dinner, as they post photos of supposed death row prisoners wearing placards where their last meal is written.
A petition on Change.org demands for the restaurant to rethink the "barbaric nature" of their theme. The petition sites a number of executed prisoners like Romell Broom and Clayton Lockett and the manner of their execution. The petition, so far, has garnered 236 signatures.
We're saddened by the response & sorry for the offence. @DeathRowDinners is intended to explore 'last meals'. In full https://t.co/9u0KQSwdon — Death Row Dinners (@DeathRowDinners) September 16, 2014
The pop-up restaurant issued an apology on Tuesday in their website. Death Row Dinners said they're considering their next steps and will update everyone once the decision's been made.
The statement said, "We're shocked and saddened by the response to Death Row Dinners and are genuinely very sorry for any offence caused."
For a short time, the pop-up store plans to offer customers the chance to enjoy the idea of the last meal. According to the site, it's a tradition practiced by many dated as far back as the Roman gladiators' banquet meals before going in a fight. Today, only the countries Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, India, and U.S.A. practice it.
