KFC sorry for clip that mocked TikTok influencer's stammer

Jessie says "she wouldn't be suprised if this happens to her again"

A Welsh TikTok influencer says she feels "mocked" after a KFC franchise used a clip of her stammer in a now deleted social media post.

Jessie Yendle, from Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, said she is "really disappointed" that "brands are not more educated on speech impediments".

KFC, whose franchise based in North Macedonia was responsible for the video, said it has reached out directly to Jessie to "apologise for the hurt she has experienced".

In September German football giants Borussia Dortmund also apologised to her, after the club's social media uploaded a video of her stammer which transitioned into a popular TikTok dance track.

A similar video was also posted by triathlon organiser Ironman which also apologised, but Jessie said she has been left feeling like "they were using my speech for clickbait".

Ironman admitted it had also made a mistake, adding it "should have done proper research before jumping on what we thought was a social media trend".

In the video posted by KFC Macedonia, Jessie is shown struggling to pronounce a sound as she stammers, before the video transitions into an electronic dance track showing a range of KFC products.

Jessie, who is known online as Mimidarlingbeauty, with 3.5 million followers on TikTok, said she was told about the latest episode involving KFC by one of her followers.

"I feel really disappointed that this has happened again," she said.

"I thought that brands by now would be more educated on speech impediments.

"They used that short clip of my voice but I'm not my speech impediments, I'm so much more than that.

"I've been raising awareness on the internet for four years and my platform has given me a voice."

Speaking on the challenges she faces in her everyday life, Jessie said: "I've had the phone put down on me when I've tried to order a pizza because the staff thought I was making a prank call."

She added that being visible on social media had come at her "own expense", but said she wants "to provoke change".

Jessie wrote a book in 2023 called Let's Talk to help others with speech impediments

A KFC spokesperson said: "We are truly sorry that this happened, and we have reached out directly to Jessica to apologise for the hurt she has experienced.

"Everyone deserves to be treated with respect and mocking someone for their stammer is simply wrong. We want to make clear that this behaviour is totally unacceptable and is not tolerated at KFC.

"Every person who walks through our doors should feel welcome, valued and safe to be themselves.

The spokesperson said KFC would contact Stamma, a UK charity for people who stammer, to see how it can work with them "to make sure every voice is heard and appreciated at KFC".

"Our franchise partner in KFC North Macedonia will also contact [Jessie] to apologise and is reviewing how training can be implemented locally," they added.