Friday, April 06, 2012



Must not connect blacks and fried chicken

We read:
"Burger King has been accused of pushing racial stereotypes in its new ad campaign, which features movie and pop stars eating in Burger King restaurants.

The fast food chain, which is losing out to rivals, hired Salma Hayek, Jay Leno, David Beckham and Mary J. Blige to revive its fortunes.

The ads try to convince the public that famous people are just like them - and enjoy eating burgers and drinking milk-shakes in Burger King restaurants.

However, the Blige spot, in which the rapper gets on top of a Burger King table and sings: "Crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing, wrapped up in a tasty flour tortilla", has suffered a huge backlash.

Critics claim the ad plays into uncomfortable stereotypes by having a black woman sing about chicken.

In statement released after an uncomfortably long silence, Burger King said it pulled the ad due to a licensing issue and expected to have it back on air soon. It wouldn't comment on whether the ad would remain the same.

Source

I rather like fried chicken myself.  So I must be black  -- that's the level of logic involved

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

On a trip through Mississippi I stopped at eatery in a small town. The place was loaded with families both black and white and the special of the day was fried chicken. The cook staff and the wait staff were also mixed. A black waitress was 'singing' the praises of the chicken. And she was so right. It was the best fried chicken I ever had.

In short, southern fried chicken is neither black nor white but a part of American culture.

Menoichius said...

Also, I think we can assume that Ms. Blige wouldn't have agreed to sing the bit if she found it offensive/racist.

Anonymous said...

Yeah lets have ads to encourage Americans to eat even more fatty and unhealthy junk food! Burger King doesn't or can't make authentic "southern fried chicken", and people would be wise not to eat very often at any similar "restaurant", especially taking their children to start the habit. The whole world already sees Americans as just lard-as**s in unflattering clothing!

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:42

Another whiner heard from!

stinky said...

Just "keeping whitey on the hook," and sadly, with Burger King at least, it worked.

Go Away Bird said...

Anyone for a few rounds of SHORTNIN BREAD?

Anonymous said...

Did Salma, Jay or Becks mention chicken in their spots or only Mary?