Kong is the end of his first name.
I don't get the big deal here. If you're going to use his name and make a nickname type reference, you've really got either Donkey Kong or King Kong, both which the ignorant/weak-minded will immediately misconstrue.
And honestly, it would probably be less media outrage and more social media outrage, because the social media mindset is ignorant and always out looking for a reason to be outraged. Then, they get so crazy that they drive the real media headlines, which usually ends up getting someone fired over something that normally wouldn't get them fired.
This is the world where we live.