Kenneth Cole’s #Cairo Tweet Angers the Internet

Update: Kenneth Cole has removed the offending tweet and issued an apology on his Facebook Page: “I apologize to everyone who was offended by my insensitive tweet about the situation in Egypt. I’ve dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues, and in hindsight my attempt at humor regarding a nation liberating themselves against oppression was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate.

Kenneth Cole, Chairman and Chief Creative Officer”

The Internet is buzzing with anger today following a tweet on fashion designer Kenneth Cole’s account that many feel makes light of the protests in Egypt.

The tweet in question reading “Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online at http://bit.ly/KCairo -KC” went up about four hours ago, and still remains on Twitter.

An apology, however, has been issued via a tweet reading: “Re Egypt tweet: we weren’t intending to make light of a serious situation. We understand the sensitivity of this historic moment -KC”

We’ve reached out the Kenneth Cole’s camp for more info on why the original tweet was sent.

Cole made a similarly indelicate statement in the past; following 9/11, he told the New York Daily News: “Important moments like this are a time to reflect… To remind us, sometimes, that it’s not only important what you wear, but it’s also important to be aware.”

The Twitterverse, unsurprisingly, is not happy with Cole’s 140-character missive. A fake account — @KennethColePR, à la @BPGlobalPR — has even cropped up, mocking the designer with such tweets as: “Our new slingback pumps would make Anne Frank come out of hiding! #KennethColeTweets.”

What do you think of Cole’s gaffe? Should he take down the tweet? Weigh in, in the comments section.