So, Kenneth Cole is once again saying some crap on Twitter that’s making people upset.

The 59-year-old fashion designer is making light of the current situation in Syria and the United States’ potential involvement by using a common phrase, “boots on the ground,” to promote shoes (in a fashion sense). Here’s the screencap of the tweet, not the embed, because you know it’s going to be removed eventually:

Let’s also not forget about that time back in 2011 when Kenneth Cole used the unrest in Egypt to promote his new spring collection.

“Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online,” he said.

He later took to his Facebook page to apologize for said tweet, saying, “”I apologize to everyone who was offended by my insensitive tweet about the situation in Egypt. I’ve dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues, and in hindsight my attempt at humor regarding a nation liberating themselves against oppression was poorly timed and absolutely inappropriate.”

I guess there are a half dozen or so reasons why Cole’s latest tweet is riling people up. I mean, people are dying in Syria at an alarming rate. There’s at least some evidence to suggest that President Bashar al-Asad or at least someone under his command used chemical weapons on his own people. Our own legislature is set to vote on granting President Obama the right to use military action against the country. Our nation is divided, our Congress is divided. There are far-reaching implications not only in terms of the security of Syrians and Americans, but also how any sort of move will affect international relations. Plus, joking about soldiers in harms way is usually pretty ill-advised.

But Kenneth Cole wants to make sure we’re considering pumps and loafers.

“Not cool OR socially responsible,” says one Twitter user.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” says another.

Anyway, it is just a joke, I guess. And it’s not like anybody is turning to Kenneth Cole for political advice or anything. But people are mad. Just check Twitter. You’d think, after that whole Egypt thing a couple of years ago, Cole would remember the awful taste of what a foot tastes like when it’s lodged firmly in one’s mouth.

Image via Wikimedia Commons