A dessert that mocks the infamous arrest of former DC Mayor Marion Barry puts a local pizza chain in hot water

A popular Washington, D.C.-area pizza chain is facing backlash after introducing a recent dessert earlier this week based on the infamous drug possession arrest of former D.C. Mayor the late Marion Barry.

Local franchise &Pizza announced the addition of powdered berry-stuffed dough knots, called “Marion Berry Knots,” and showcased them at an event at the Hive Hotel. Shortly thereafter, city leaders and members began calling for a boycott of the fast casual chain, which led them to remove the item from the menu.

Prior to its launch, the Dessert Knots were advertised as “a new secret menu item inspired by none other than the city’s vibrant political scene.” Washington Eater reported. From that point on, the marketing of the mistaken treat became more direct. According to Eater, the release said, “The Marion Berry Knots have enough powdered sugar to make customers bump elbows when ordering and even make the DEA double-check.”

For DC News Nowadditional marketing language boasted that knots “may not be the perfect dessert, but they are the perfect dessert for DC”

Promotional photos included a shot of a silver tray covered in a mound of white powder.

The marketing gimmick was a reference to the infamous 1990 arrest of then-Mayor Marion Barry for using crack cocaine, which ultimately led to the politician’s possession conviction and 6 months in prison. Thirty years later, this legacy continues to be complicated for a lot of in the region, especially the Black community and Barry’s family.

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On Monday, Barry’s widow, Cora Masters Barry, spoke to DC News Now about the distasteful dessert.

“I just think it’s racist. It’s outrageously racist in this city,” she told the website, adding: “It’s racist and disrespectful.”

IN entry on X on Monday, At-Large DC Councilmember Christina Henderson said, “This is not smart marketing (and pizza). It’s tone deaf and damn disrespectful.”

On Tuesday, District 8 Councilmember Trayon White called for a boycott in a post about: Instagram for “shameless and tasteless exploitation of Marion S. Barry’s legacy.”

After & Pizza CEO Mike Burns initially issued statements that seemingly ignored the growing controversy in the Washington Post and Washingtonian magazine, community leaders held a rally and press conference on Wednesday. Organizers used the hashtag #KNOTINDC, and Ronald Moten of Don’t Mute DC gave an impassioned speech.

“We just want you to know that we are coming as a united front. It’s not one person. It’s not two people. It (isn’t) black. It (isn’t) white. This is Washington and we want to tell you: not in Washington,” Moten said, based on Eater.

Later Wednesday, Burns finally apologized in a statement, promising to contact community leaders to learn the way he could higher work with them in the future.

“Although humor was our intention, unfortunately it did not come out well,” Burns wrote. “The parody of the former mayor and the portrayal of addicts was inappropriate. We have read countless messages and social media posts and understand the frustration this has caused – especially for the Barry family.”