Snapple's ties to the Klan?

What is Believed 

The main belief held about this conspiracy theory is that Snapple, the juice and tea company, is owned or somehow financially linked to the Ku Klux Klan. Their label depicts a subtle letter "K" that supposedly stands for "KKK" and the ship shown on older Snapple labels is allegedly a slave ship. It is also believed that the company supports controversial or extremist groups. 

How It Evolved 

These rumors first surfaced in the 1990s as Snapple began to grow rapidly as a company and popularity spread through predominantly Black communities and cities. When individuals first began to notice the "K" and ship depicted, rumors began to spread about hidden racist agendas in the corporation. In 1993, Snapple ran an expensive ad campaign clarifying that the "K" stood for Kosher and the ship was a depiction of the Boston Tea Party, however, by then the rumors had already gained traction.   

Who Believes It

At that time, the rumors circulated greatly among Black and minority communities within U.S. cities as well as through some religious groups. Because of the nature of this conspiracy theory, those with a tendency to distrust corporate motives or general brand skeptics were also quick to spread rumors regarding Snapple. Finally, teenagers and younger consumers were susceptible to the spread of Snapples alleged affiliation because of the shock value and racial tension it created.   

How It Spread 

These rumors spread primarily through word of mouth via churches, schools, and neighborhood hangout spots and later spread through message boards and email. The visual "evidence" of the "K" and the ship displayed on the bottles made the rumors easier to repeat. In terms of Snapple's counter-campaign response, some say that it may have reinforced awareness of the rumor by bringing it to greater public attention and extending the rumor's life.