Wild Wings reviews ad relationship with comedian who lied about 9/11

Steve Rannazzisi, who stars in some Buffalo Wild Wings commercials, admitted to the New York Times he lied about the 9/11 attacks.

September 16, 2015 at 6:01PM
Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. signage is displayed outside of a restaurant in San Ramon, California, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. is expected to release earnings data on Feb. 4. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. signage is displayed outside of a restaurant in San Ramon, California, U.S., on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014. Buffalo Wild Wings Inc. is expected to release earnings data on Feb. 4. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg (Evan Ramstad — Bloomberg/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

Buffalo Wild Wings is reviewing its advertising relationship with Steve Rannazzisi after the comedian admitted to the New York Times that he lied about escaping from the World Trade Center attacks on Sept. 11, 2001.

Rannazzisi, known particularly for television show "The League," has been starring in Buffalo Wild Wings' ads for the 2015 football season. He's also appeared in the company's ads for the NCAA March Madness basketball tournament.

Rannazzisi had long said he was working for Merrill Lynch in the south tower of the World Trade Center when the first plane hit the north tower, fleeing before the second plane strike.

But the Times reported Wednesday that he was working in midtown Manhattan that day, and that Merrill Lynch had no record of him as an employee. When confronted by the Times, Rannazzisi admitted the fabrication.

Buffalo Wild Wings told the Times that it was "disappointed" with Rannazzisi's "misrepresentation." The Golden Valley-based restaurant chain, which features a sports theme and advertises heavily on sports TV programing, said it's "re-evaluating" its relationship with Rannazzisi.

about the writer

about the writer

Mike Hughlett

Reporter

Mike Hughlett covers energy and other topics for the Minnesota Star Tribune, where he has worked since 2010. Before that he was a reporter at newspapers in Chicago, St. Paul, New Orleans and Duluth.

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