Deep Ellum Restaurant's "Joke" Cooks Up Controversy
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - A restaurant owner in Dallas attempting to make a "joke" finds himself in hot water after some accused him of making fun of rape.
David Anthony Temple, who is the chef and owner of Twenty Seven in Deep Ellum, often writes messages on his chalk board outside of his eatery.
"Only Mr. Bill Cosby knows how to knock out Ronda Rousey," wrote Temple on the corner of Malcolm X Boulevard and Elm Street.
Dozens of women have accused Bill Cosby of drugging them for sex. Rousey is an undefeated mixed-martial arts fighter.
After posting a picture of his new message to Instagram and Twitter, Temple soon realized some did not think it was funny.
"I was totally surprised. I wasn't expecting that at all. I was like, wow," said Temple. "We thought this was pretty funny. We had some that were way more inappropriate, but we chose this one because it fit and it wasn't too bad."
Several users on social media took Temple to task and said he was making fun of sexual assault and rape.
"It's not funny, it's terrifying," said Christina Coultas, a director at The Family Place, a women's advocacy group.
Coultas said 82 percent of women do not report sexual assault. She said making fun of rape only further discourages victims.
"It supports a belief system that it's okay. That it's not that serious," said Coultas.
Temple insists his intention was not to offend anyone or any victims of sexual assault.
"If it surely offended you, really struck a nerve or really hurt you, I sincerely apologize. That's not at all what I wanted to do. And there's going to be more funny things on the board that will probably offend other people. Something is always offensive to someone," said Temple.
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