A supposed vintage KFC advertisement featuring the slogan, "The Colonel's holiday three-way; twice the breasts, thighs, and legs," has been circulating on social media for years.
(Imgur user @BusterH)
TinEye and Google reverse-image search results showed the image was spread on various social media platforms, including Instagram, Facebook, Reddit, iFunny, Pinterest and Imgur.
"I refuse to believe that this wasn't purposeful innuendo on the part of the marketing team," one 2018 Reddit post with the image read.
Another Reddit post even shared a printed version of the alleged ad:
In short, because there is no evidence to suggest that KFC ever released such an advertisement and the in-question image was created by digitally manipulating another (see below), we have labeled it as a fake.
The image was originally posted in 2018 by Cris Shapan, a comedian and graphic designer known for creating altered vintage advertisements. (We've previously featured several of Shapan's works, including ads for "Johnson's Winking Glue," "Arden Weenus' Cadmium-Enriched Meat Softener," and "Boned Rolled Pig.")
The text of the alleged advertisement read:
The Colonel's Holiday Three-Way: Twice the breasts, thighs & legs.
The holidays are a stressful time for everyone - even the Colonel! What better way to blow off steam than with a double helping of hot, juicy breasts, thighs & legs, ready, eager, just waiting to submit to your hungry mouth & tongue. Explore a fantasy world where you'll experience satisfaction beyond imagination - and so will the wife & kids because the Three-Way includes mashed potatoes and biscuits.
Why there's enough Colonel here to fill the mouths of a family of four! And he'll even throw in cole slaw, honey, and a big wad of napkins for whatever you don't lick clean.
Come see The Colonel for the holidays. He's ready to service your family in minutes at over 1900 locations all over the nation. Imagine how happy your family will look with the Colonel's famous juices all over their faces & fingers.
THE NEW YORK MONTHLY GIANT JUGS REVIEW, DECEMBER 1971
The alleged ad was purportedly published in "The New York Monthly Giant Jugs Review" in December 1971. However, a Google search revealed no publication by that name ever existed, and no archived magazine from this period that we could find contained such an ad. If there was any doubt the ad was created as a parody, the supposed name of the publication should put it to rest.
A KFC spokesperson also confirmed via email that the image in question is a "fake advertisement." They further clarified that the image was "taken out of the context of the actual advertisement" and "the fake copy was never distributed as part of any KFC advertisement."
As noted above, the image featuring Sanders and two women originated from a legitimate KFC ad published in LIFE magazine on Dec. 6, 1968:
(Google Books)
The authentic ad read:
He'll give you a rest during the rush
Who's got time to fix dinner during Christmas rush?
Colonel Sanders, that's who. He fixes dinner seven days a week. Finger lickin' good Kentucky Fried Chicken and all the trimmings. Ready in minutes at over 1900 locations all over the nation.
When you're too busy to fix dinner during the holidays, have cheer. The man for all seasons will help. With Kentucky Fried Chicken. The best chicken every season of the year.
The genuine KFC ad from 1968 and the fabricated, suggestive version circulating online both featured the exact phrase "Ready in minutes at over 1900 locations all over the nation."
For further reading, in December 2020 we investigated whether KFC developed a video game console that also keeps chicken warm.