Góa-Linda employee apologises for false KFC claim

A Góa-Linda employee has apologised after telling a journalist that a new KFC restaurant was being planned at Lyfjaval’s premises in Hæðarsmári, Kópavogur, despite knowing the claim was false, mbl.is reports.

Patrik Atlason had also made the claim on social media. Morgunblaðið published a report about the supposed plans, after which Patrik corrected the falsehood online.

In a written apology to the newspaper and its journalist, Patrik said he had been experimenting with artificial intelligence to see how a KFC would look at the location. He apologised for not telling the journalist straight away that he was joking, adding that the joke should not have drawn the reporter into it.

Patrik told mbl.is that he alone was responsible and that he had decided to joke when the journalist called. He said he wanted to apologise, but also argued that the matter was being made more serious than it was.

KFC and Góa-Linda are sister companies owned by the family of Helgi Vilhjálmsson, Patrik’s grandfather. KFC Iceland managing director Kristín Helgadóttir, who is Patrik’s cousin, told mbl.is that a formal apology from the company was expected.