Buffalo Wild Wings is re-evaluating its relationship with comedian Steve Rannazzisi after the comedian admitted to lying about his escape from the World Trade Center after attacks on the towers on Sept. 11, 2001.
According to the New York Times, Rannazzisi admitted that a story he had long told in great detail — that he had worked at Merrill Lynch in the South Tower that day — was not true. He was in Midtown that day, and did not work for Merrill Lynch.
Rannazzisi, who stars in the FX program The League, had started doing commercials for the chain in March, first in an ad campaign for the chain about the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
“We are disappointed to learn of Steve’s misrepresentations regarding the events of September 11, 2001,” Buffalo Wild Wings said in a statement. “We are currently re-evaluating our relationship with Steve pending a review of all the facts.”
The issue becomes the latest warning to restaurant chains and other companies that use known personalities as regular spokespersons: Sometimes, those people get caught up in controversies.
The most infamous: Subway this summer ended its relationship with longtime spokesman Jared Fogle after a child pornography investigation.
Rannazzisi apologized on Twitter Wednesday in a series of tweets, noting that he started telling the story shortly after Sept. 11, and continued to tell it.
“I don’t know why I said this,” he said. “This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry. For many years, more than anything, I have wished that, with silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man.”
I don’t know why I said this. This was inexcusable. I am truly, truly sorry. For many years, more than anything, I have wished that, with
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
silence, I could somehow erase a story told by an immature young man.It only made me more ashamed. How could I tell my children to be honest
— Stephen Rannazzisi (@SteveRannazzisi) September 16, 2015
Contact Jonathan Maze at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @jonathanmaze
