Kipp Berdiansky Offends Mental Health Advocates With Psycho Donuts

Kipp Berdiansky and Jordan Zweigoron opened Psycho Donuts in Campbell, California with the idea to put a crazy twist on the traditional donut. Donuts with themes like "Massive Head Trauma" and "Bipolar" (it's one donut with two very different halves) have been a big hit with customers. But mental health advocates are crying foul.

During a televised debate that aired July 25, Berdiansky appeared in surgical scrubs, bearing a platter of donuts, to address criticism from Oscar Wright, who says the name of his donut shop makes light of the state's serious mental health problems. Wright argued that Psycho Donuts perpetuates the stigma attached to mental health issues, and that stigma is why 60% of children with mental health problems aren't given adequate treatment.

Berdiansky fired back that his shop simply has a fun, light-hearted theme, and that if anyone has a problem with it, they can visit one of the many many other donut shops with inoffensive names.

From the San Jose Mercury News:
The televised debate on KTVU's Bay Area People shed some light on the controversy over Psycho Donuts, whose pledge to take doughnuts to the "next demented level" has many mental health advocates crying foul. But more so, the much anticipated face-off perhaps showed just how far apart the two sides are.

"It's hard to say where it's going to go," said Councilman Dan Furtado. "I understand the issues and each side is stating where they're coming from, but in terms of where it ends up, I don't know."

During the half-hour show, which aired on July 25, Berdiansky defended his shop by saying there was no intent to offend anyone and that the shop's name and theme were directed at doughnuts, not people. He likened his shop to other controversial establishments such as gun shops, Hooters Restaurant and Planned Parenthood.