Vladimir Putin’s put-on
Lucy’s Cantina Royale in New York City was surprised to learn that it was featured prominently in a Russian TV spot produced by a state-controlled news agency. The story reported that Lucy’s was observing the birthday of Russian President Vladimir Putin by putting a five-patty burger on its menu for the special day, Oct. 7. The sandwich weighed 1,952 grams, according to the report; not coincidentally, Russia’s big cheese was born in 1952, it noted.
A controversy erupted, but the Mexican restaurant threw up its hands and said it knew nothing about a Putin sandwich.
“Lucy’s Cantina Royale was subject of a hoax involving Vladimir Putin’s birthday. Our restaurant has never celebrated Vladimir Putin’s birthday in any way, shape, or form, and has never offered a ‘Putin Burger,’” Manager Tim Ryan said in a statement provided to the media.
Yet the Russian report included footage clearly shot inside the restaurant, with a waitress speaking about the sandwich and a birthday celebration.
Ryan couldn’t explain away that curious detail. But reports surfaced that the video might have been a school project, a suggestion Ryan declined to confirm or deny.
But the restaurant acknowledged that employees connected to the incident had been suspended.