Pizza Hut Caught Giving 'Drag Kids' Books to Kindergarten Children
Books encourage young kids to 'transition' into opposite gender
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Pizza Hut has provoked a fierce backlash after the restaurant chain was caught giving "drag kids" books to children in pre-kindergarten through 6th grade.
The global pizza brand is featuring a book about "drag kids" as one of the books promoted by its "Book It!" reading incentive program aimed at young children.
The books encourage young children to question their biological gender and consider becoming transgender.
The "Book It!" website features a book titled "Big Wig," and states that the reading is geared toward children in pre-kindergarten through 3rd grade.
"Big Wig" is a picture book that "celebrates drag kids," according to a description on the Simon & Schuster website.
"In the spirit of Julián Is a Mermaid, this irrepressible picture book celebrates drag kids, individuality, and self-confidence from the perspective of a fabulous wig!" the description states.
The description adds that the book is about a child who "dresses in drag" and competes in a neighborhood costume competition.
"When a child dresses in drag to compete in a neighborhood costume competition, he becomes B. B. Bedazzle!," it continues.
"A key part of B.B. Bedazzle’s ensemble is a wig called Wig.
"Together they are an unstoppable drag queen team! But Wig feels inadequate compared to the other, bigger wigs.
"When Wig flies off B. B.’s head, she goes from kid to kid instilling confidence and inspiring dreams in those who wear her."
.@pizzahut sponsors a program which incentivizes kids in PreK-6th grade to read books. This week, one of their suggested books is “Big Wig.” A book about a child who becomes a drag performer. pic.twitter.com/5FTQC5ubCo
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) June 3, 2022
The book was promoted as part of Pizza Hut's "Camp Book It!" program, which runs during the summer.
Participants in Pre-K-6th grade can receive a personal pan pizza as a reward for meeting their reading goal, according to a screenshot of an email tweeted by LibsofTikTok.
"Big Wig" is being featured as part of Pride Month, according to the email.
After the popular conservative Twitter account Libs of TikTok posted a screenshot of the email, calls for a boycott came almost immediately.
"Pizza Hut has gone full woke, now we must make them full broke," Israeli author Brigitte Gabriel tweeted.
Pizza Hut has gone full woke, now we must make them full broke.
— Brigitte Gabriel (@ACTBrigitte) June 3, 2022
"Pizza Hut was started in Wichita and mostly funded by Kansans these folks would be appalled that their amazing American success story is part of the effort to destroy America and her children," American Conservative Union Chairman Matt Schlapp tweeted.
"These companies need to realize we won’t use their products any longer."
Pizza Hut was started in Wichita and mostly funded by Kansans these folks would be appalled that their amazing American success story is part of the effort to destroy America and her children. These companies need to realize we won’t use their products any longer. https://t.co/v9UdYRFTjT
— Matt Schlapp (@mschlapp) June 3, 2022
"I dont eat this piss garbage," Tim Pool wrote.
I dont eat this piss garbage https://t.co/of6LaaQ9WL pic.twitter.com/JAmALKWvZ6
— Tim Pool (@Timcast) June 3, 2022
Meanwhile, Andy Levy, a podcaster, tweeted out a laughing GIF with the caption: "When you see why pizza hut is trending."
when u see why pizza hut is trending pic.twitter.com/MrnE7247k7
— andy™ (@andylevy) June 3, 2022
Pizza Hut hasn't responded to criticism on Twitter.
The restaurant runs its reading program year-round, partnering with schools during the school year.
Children are allowed to read a book of their choosing and receive a certificate for a free pizza if they complete the book within the month.
Its program has been operating since 1984, with the restaurant calling itself a "literacy motivator" in its Twitter bio.
