David Alan Grier Jokes That He’s the First African-American Colonel Sanders

Is David Alan Grier the latest actor to play KFC’s Colonel Sanders? Not so fast.

While the fast-food figure has undergone multiple makeovers this past year, the African-American comedian won’t be starring as the latest iteration of the spokesperson.

On Thursday morning, Grier announced his new gig on his Twitter account, “Breaking News: David Alan Grier has been cast as the first African American Colonel Sanders in the new KFC ad campaign.”

Breaking News: David Alan Grier has been cast as the first African American Colonel Sanders in the new KFC ad campaign. #KFC

— David Alan Grier (@davidalangrier) March 3, 2016

But later in the day, KFC’s CMO Kevin Hochman released a statement saying that Grier had not been tapped as the new Colonel Sanders.

“There is no new Colonel Sanders,” Hochman said in the statement. “We are very excited to learn that Mr. Grier is such a big fan of KFC and The Colonel. We’re a big fan of him as well. We hope to continue the conversation with him over a $5 Fill Up.”

KFC’s Twitter account also indicated the company hadn’t heard that Grier was taking on the role of Colonel Sanders.

KFC has been attempting to revitalize its brand with new ad campaigns recently. In May 2015, Saturday Night Live‘s Darrell Hammond played the company’s founder in a slate of ads. 

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Norm Macdonald sported the goatee and white suit in August, decrying other Colonel Sanders as imposters.

Then came Jim Gaffigan’s turn as Sanders in a Super Bowl commercial this year.

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March 5, 12:27 p.m. This story has been updated to include KFC’s tweet and statement indicating that Grier’s earlier tweet was a joke.