KFC has repeatedly come under fire on health considerations and on what PETA and other groups claim is torture of the birds that are then served deep fried, but now it’s for something different that it’s grabbing headlines. An advert for KFC Australia has been branded “racist” by the US media and, following numerous complaints from consumers, has just recently been pulled down, The Australian says.
The short clip (just under 30 seconds) is part of a series called the Cricket Survival Guide, showing Mick the Australian surrounded by West Indian fans. They are all dancing and causing a commotion, much to the obvious discomfort of Mick, who looks to the camera and asks, “Need a tip when you’re stuck in an awkward situation?” He then lifts up a bucket of KFC fried chicken, which brings all the fans back on their seats and under control as it were.
“Too easy,” Mick says, clearly content with the conclusion he’s just reached. “The commercial gained international notoriety when it was posted on the video-sharing website YouTube, attracting more than 2,700 comments over three weeks. Critics said the commercial perpetuated a stereotype that African Americans eat large quantities of fried chicken,” The Australian writes.
Such controversy couldn’t but come back to KFC, which initially defended itself from allegations of racism by saying that the message of the ad had been taken out of context and twisted to look like something it was never meant to be. “We unequivocally condemn discrimination of any type and have a proud history as one of the world’s leading employers for diversity,” KFC also said. At the same time, it stressed that the YouTube outrage was prompted by the posting of the video without permission and, more importantly, the prior existence of a “culturally based stereotype.”
However, as per Boomberg, to avoid further misunderstanding, KFC Australia eventually decided to pull the ad altogether. Even more, it also publicly apologized for any offense it might have caused. “To avoid the possibility of any further offense being caused by the advertisement either here or online overseas, KFC will cease running the commercial immediately. KFC Australia apologizes unreservedly for any offence caused which of course was wholly unintended,” a statement from KFC reads.
I see nothing wrong with that commercial. It's a fact that Black people love fried chicken and so do white people. I think some jerk out there will have a comment to make. They make very thing out to be something is isn't. And thats with the help of the media.
Anyone in the USA who labeled this racist, needs to spend some time with a psychiatrist. The political correctness watchdogs in the USA are preposterous!! These are same type of idiots who have maintained that anyone who disagrees or opposes the policies of President Obama is a racist. These people are the worst kind of race-baiters.
What a load of rubbish to call this advertisment racist. Firstly, these are West Indians and not African Americans. Secondly, KFC is a major sponsor of West Indian cricket. Thirdly, both West Indians and Australians do not harbor any such connotations regarding fried chicken and race - unlike the Americans. There are numerous American words and sayings that Australian consider offensive; but do you see us publish our moral opinions of the Americans? No. I would like to suggest that the Americans mind their own business.
Could it be possible that the Aussies were playing the West Indies and he just happened to the wrong side?! Like a Redskins fan on the Steelers side?! Cricket games do not only represent different regions of Australia, but also different nations. I think ad was geared for the Australia market and people need to look deeper into another culture and understand it before calling something "offensive" or "racist". I'm a well-traveled African-American who feels the rest of America needs to get out and see the rest of the World before they can point fingers at others.
I apoligize to the world for the stupid " PC" that we allow to rule us, I hope when the revoloution comes, that the PC'ers are the first against the wall......again, sorry for the idiots and morons we have loosed on the world...
Comment #6 by: Mitchell Hutchins on 07 Jan 2010, 13:47 GMT
As a migrant who has lived in Australia for 10 years I think majority of white Australians can help being racist. As an immigrant you always face verbal or Physical assualts. These people are proud to be racist. Now they are killing Indian Students.
Comment #9 by: aborginal killer on 12 Jan 2010, 04:57 GMT
Australia is historical a country made up of offspring of convicts no one in the civilized society (england) wanted any where near them.so don't be surprised by what these these children of convicts say after all a tree is known by its fruit--but if its seed itself is rotten can the fruit ever be made good.It needs to be cut down and destroyed
Comment #9.1 by: Flavian Hardcastle on 26 Jan 2010, 09:02 GMT
@aboriginal killer, aside from factually wrong, your common is really quite racist.
Comment #10 by: I Smell Poop on 25 Jan 2010, 15:43 GMT
Hey Australia,
Why hasn't anybody from Down Under picked up on the fraud Harry Connick Jr.? Remember him? The guy who pretends to be from New Orleans, but is really the son of one of the presidents of Sony Music, who also happens to be a major stockholder in Sony Pictures. What happened to your reporters? Did the rich folk buy them all off?
Connick Jr. went to public school in Weston, Connecticut from 1970-1982.
He even had Michael Jackson visit him at his home in Wston around 1980-1981or 1982.
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