Social media crowd finds 'coup' references in April Fools Day ad of food giant Ülker

An April's Fools Day advertisement by Turkey's largest food company, Ülker, triggered panic on social media amid accusations that the video heralded a military coup.

The commercial was broadcast online on March 31, 2017, and describes the bad sides of being a younger sibling and says "time for revenge" is near.

Crowds gathered outside President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's house in Istanbul's Üsküdar district early on March 1 to protest against the advertisement, which demonstrators claimed contained "pro-coup" themes. 

The group organized the protest via social media, terming their gathering as part of the "democracy watch" movement that began in Turkey following the July 16, 2016, failed coup attempt.      

AKP Istanbul deputy Metin Külünk also attended the protest, praising the "sensitivity of the people" over the issue.      

"The Istanbul Public Prosecutor's Office has launched an investigation into the advertisement," Külünk said, adding that the Istanbul police chief informed him over the phone that "nothing out of the ordinary" had taken place in the city.      

He also claimed that the movement of U.S.-based Islamic preacher Fethullah Gülen, said to be behind last year's failed coup attempt, is "still up to dirty business."      

"They want to control the psychology of 80 million [Turkish people]. Let's not allow this," Külünk added. 

Yıldız Holding chair Murat Ülker has said the misunderstanding over the commercial was the result of a "conspiracy."
 
"I'm abroad. I have heard about the news. Thank you to those who told us. Those who have conspired will face the consequences. We are on the side of our nation," Ülker stated via his official Twitter account.

Another statement...