"Racist" KFC ad.

[OzBomber]

The MCG.

Nah, they sell Red Rooster not KFC.

 

[The Falcon Strike]

So, what's next, should KFC be banned from sponsoring the Big Bash because a West Indian player has to wear their logo?

At the WACA the other week - every time he hit a boundary they played every known carribean song.

Another 6 or so and I'm sure they would have played "pass the duchie...."

 

[Altum Volantes]

It's not us Aussies that are confused, it's the Americans. The ad isn't even about race at all - it's about the apparent irresistability of KFC. The other ads in the series back this up, as they all revolve around Mick using the irresistability of KFC to get what he wants - to watch the cricket at home, to get an autograph from Phillip Hughes, to get a better seat at the game. The point of this particular ad is that he feel awkward because he's seated right in the middle of opposition supporter territory, yet he eases whatever tension by offering them some KFC. You could replace the West Indians with the Barmy Army if you wanted, and the meaning would be the same, but that wouldn't be as relevant right now because we're not playing England this summer. You could even do the same ad with a Collingwood supporter sitting amongst a bunch of Carlton supporters, and it'd have the same meaning, but again, wouldn't be quite relevant right now, as it's not footy season right now.

Why I mentioned replacing the West Indians with Pakistanis is because the Americans probably wouldn't bat an eyelid at people of Middle Eastern appearance being placed in the same, because they're seen as and often portrayed as "the bad guys" and "the enemy" in recent years (even though the ad isn't about race to begin with). The common portrayal of Middle Eastern individuals as "the bad guy" or "potential terrorist" is acceptable to Americans (and to be fair, many others in the Western world) and somehow isn't racial stereotyping though

I understand what you mean mate but like I said, it's the combination of African American (or West Indian, who are essentially African North American) and Fried Chicken and the stereotype attached to that. There isn't the same stereotype with Pakistanis or Englishmen or Kiwis, so it wouldn't be an issue. If it was a McDonalds advert instead, it wouldn't be an issue.

It's specifically the Chicken, not the situation or whether they are being protrayed as the bad guy or enemy. It might sound silly but trust me, if you walked into a ghetto in middle of Detroit with a bucket of Fried Chicken to share with the locals, you probably wouldn't get out alive.

You are right though, the Americans are confused by the ad and don't know the context. Don't get me wrong I firmly believe it was more a careless mistake from KFC rather than a malicous racist slur but the first time I saw that advert a few weeks back, I commented to my friend that they better hope the Yanks don't get a hold of this one or it'll be 'Hey Hey' all over again.

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

if you walked into a ghetto in middle of Detroit with a bucket of Fried Chicken to share with the locals, you probably wouldn't get out alive.

What if you were in the West Indies and not Detroit?

 

[The Falcon Strike]

I understand what you mean mate but like I said, it's the combination of African American (or West Indian, who are essentially African North American) and Fried Chicken and the stereotype attached to that. There isn't the same stereotype with Pakistanis or Englishmen or Kiwis, so it wouldn't be an issue. If it was a McDonalds advert instead, it wouldn't be an issue.

It's specifically the Chicken, not the situation or whether they are being protrayed as the bad guy or enemy. It might sound silly but trust me, if you walked into a ghetto in middle of Detroit with a bucket of Fried Chicken to share with the locals, you probably wouldn't get out alive.

You are right though, the Americans are confused by the ad and don't know the context. Don't get me wrong I firmly believe it was more a careless mistake from KFC rather than a malicous racist slur but the first time I saw that advert a few weeks back, I commented to my friend that they better hope the Yanks don't get a hold of this one or it'll be 'Hey Hey' all over again.

isn't that just a bad stereotype you are using - their black and from roughly the same area - so they are the same?? A bit like saying the japanese and the chinese are both yellow therefore they are the same?

And since when did playing on a stereotype become racist anyway? Should i take offence everytime i travel and a foreigner say "Gidday Mate"

Should I take offence the "Australian" restaurants overseas sell Kangaroo steak - when bugger all local restaurants sell it here!

Every pasta or pasta sauce add on Tv uses italians - should they be banned?

 

[stickman11]

No because there isn't a negative stereotype involving fried chicken and Pakistanis. Come on, that's obvious.

Saying 'They wouldn't say anything if it was someone else' is amazingly obvious, THEY are the ones that are offended - it's not about anyone else.

If it was an advert for Curry for instance, and a white man in a group of Pakistanis handed out Curry to placate the crowd we'd probably hear about that too.

Why is this confusing people?

Edit: THANK D.A! I was beginning to think I was some kind of Racial Stereotype buff.

Hey Black JuJu (Racist username)

Have you signed up for your Labour party membership yet? They love bleeding hearts.

 

[Altum Volantes]

What if you were in the West Indies and not Detroit?

Well I'm not sure if it holds the same meaning in the West Indies, but all the American's are seeing is a group of black guys who are of African decent, they don't know the context so they are being lumped into one with African Americans (that's the main problem here)

isn't that just a bad stereotype you are using - their black and from roughly the same area - so they are the same?? A bit like saying the japanese and the chinese are both yellow therefore they are the same?

And since when did playing on a stereotype become racist anyway? Should i take offence everytime i travel and a foreigner say "Gidday Mate"

Should I take offence the "Australian" restaurants overseas sell Kangaroo steak - when bugger all local restaurants sell it here!

Every pasta or pasta sauce add on Tv uses italians - should they be banned?

I drew the parallel between the West Indians and the African Americans because this is the Americans who have been offended are doing - not me personally.

I think you are missing my point. I'm simply explaining why they are taking offense, I personally don't think it had any racial intent. I've explained why 'Fried Chicken' is offensive. It was considered 'slave food' back in the 19th century, it still carries a NEGATIVE RACIST STEREOTYPE for some African Americans.

There are stereotypes (like friendly Australians, food loving Italians) that are not considered offensive but there are racist stereotypes (slant eyed, buck toothed Japanese people, stupid Polish people/Irish people or Fried Chicken-eating Black Americans for example..) that are obviously offensive. If you can't tell the difference between the 2 then that's your problem. Just because you are unaware of the negative connotations something carries outside of your own backyard doesn't mean it doesn't offend some people (in this case Black Americans, again not me personally..)

Hey Black JuJu (Racist username)

Have you signed up for your Labour party membership yet? They love bleeding hearts.

..again I'm explaining the historical context of the issue, simply because none of you seemed to have the slightest clue why anybody would make a fuss. I don't agree that it was a racist advert and I agree that it has been taken badly out of context.

Cheers..

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

You make a good point BJJ, even though I think the Turks are idiots and the lowest form of talk show you could find it's still amazing how many people just don't know anything about the fried chicken/black American stereotype.

I've spent a lot of time in the US (since meeting a beautiful girl from there) but even before that I knew of this stereotype, just from watching movies where the joke was made quite a few times. Some of the comments on the article like "If he was giving KFC to Kiwis would that be racist?" are pretty ignorant but that ignorance isn't really harming anyone.

On the other hand you have a couple of Americans who's opinions are more likely to be heard and their ignorance is actually harmful. If you're going to make a serious accusation like racism then you should have all your facts and not just assume because they're black that they're the same as African Americans.

Some of the things that girl said were atrocious, racist and embarrassing.

 

[dr nick]

I understand what you mean mate but like I said, it's the combination of African American (or West Indian, who are essentially African North American) and Fried Chicken and the stereotype attached to that. There isn't the same stereotype with Pakistanis or Englishmen or Kiwis, so it wouldn't be an issue. If it was a McDonalds advert instead, it wouldn't be an issue.

It's specifically the Chicken, not the situation or whether they are being protrayed as the bad guy or enemy. It might sound silly but trust me, if you walked into a ghetto in middle of Detroit with a bucket of Fried Chicken to share with the locals, you probably wouldn't get out alive.

You are right though, the Americans are confused by the ad and don't know the context. Don't get me wrong I firmly believe it was more a careless mistake from KFC rather than a malicous racist slur but the first time I saw that advert a few weeks back, I commented to my friend that they better hope the Yanks don't get a hold of this one or it'll be 'Hey Hey' all over again.

lol what's with all the people giving two shits what the yanks think.

Can't believe they succumbed and pulled the ad. Well i spose they are an american company

 

[Hodgepodge]

If you want to see actual african-american stereotypes, they can be found on American TV . . .



[youtube]ORvtxCHa33k[/youtube]

This in a culture that actually owns this stereotype and is aware of it. Yet I don't hear a lot of fussin and a-feudin'.

 

[mediumsizered]

Americans are insular idiots.

I think this sums up Americans the best. Worse still, I think they have lost their sense of humour. You just have to look at the rubbish they dish up as sitcoms nowadays. Get Smart, Happy Days, Family Ties. There was some really good humour in those programs. Compare that to the 'tripe' they package as comedy these days & you can see they have lost their way.

I think Americans are trying so hard to be politically correct that they have lost the ability to enjoy a good laugh & poke a bit of fun at themselves.

 

[krisholio14]

Can we pull the rest of the ads as well?

Seconded

 

[Hodgepodge]

If you want to see actual african-american stereotypes, they can be found on American TV . . .



[youtube]ORvtxCHa33k[/youtube]

This in a culture that actually owns this stereotype and is aware of it. Yet I don't hear a lot of fussin and a-feudin'.

 

[SouthSwans]

a) Americans are stupid.
b) Americans are racist but are afraid to be seen as racist.
c) Apparently African Americans like fried chicken.
d) Apparently showing a group who are pigmentally challenged who dance and bang on drums is seen as stereotyping African Americans, even if the people in question are West Indian.
e) They don't know what cricket is.
f) They don't know how passionate WIs are about their cricket.
g) They have never seen footage of WI visiting Australia during cricket matches or cricket matches in WI.
h) The ads have had a similar themes in shutting up pigmentally superior honky tonk white folk but they are not racist.
i) Apparently nobody in the USA has seen the movie White Chicks where African Americans dressed up as white women and mocked every stereotype they could think of, but apparently that isn't racist because the victims are white.
j) Americans have a giant stick up their arse and think just because something might be inappropriate for the USA everyone else has to accept their racist baggage. We have our own baggage thanks, we don't need your shit on top of it.

+1

 

[TurboHead]

Americans are racist thats why they take offence to it.

When we watch the add we see an Aussie supporter surrounded by West indies supporters.

They see a white guy surrounded by black people.

Yet i thought the colour of someones skin doesn't matter ?

If it was England supporters they wouldn't say a thing.

 

[Zeke]

[YOUTUBE]TG4f9zR5yzY[/YOUTUBE]

 

[OzBomber]

If you want to see actual african-american stereotypes, they can be found on American TV . . .



[youtube]ORvtxCHa33k[/youtube]

This in a culture that actually owns this stereotype and is aware of it. Yet I don't hear a lot of fussin and a-feudin'.

I was going to mention that exact same scene. How the hell that is not criticized I don't know.

 

[Kim Hagdorn]

a) Americans are stupid.
b) Americans are racist but are afraid to be seen as racist.
c) Apparently African Americans like fried chicken.
d) Apparently showing a group who are pigmentally challenged who dance and bang on drums is seen as stereotyping African Americans, even if the people in question are West Indian.
e) They don't know what cricket is.
f) They don't know how passionate WIs are about their cricket.
g) They have never seen footage of WI visiting Australia during cricket matches or cricket matches in WI.
h) The ads have had a similar themes in shutting up pigmentally superior honky tonk white folk but they are not racist.
i) Apparently nobody in the USA has seen the movie White Chicks where African Americans dressed up as white women and mocked every stereotype they could think of, but apparently that isn't racist because the victims are white.
j) Americans have a giant stick up their arse and think just because something might be inappropriate for the USA everyone else has to accept their racist baggage. We have our own baggage thanks, we don't need your shit on top of it.

Great post.

 

[King Elvis]

I was going to mention that exact same scene. How the hell that is not criticized I don't know.

Do as I say, not as I do.

Hypocrisy is easy.

 

[Japes]

Just wondering.

As a white person, should I be highly offended by the KFC ad in the same series where a white bloke gets hit in the head by a cricket ball because he's depicted as a dopey git concentrating more on his food than the game?

 

[Plugger35]

Nine just showed this ad again during the cricket coverage.

I thought it was banned?

 

[OzBomber]

Nine just showed this ad again during the cricket coverage.

I thought it was banned?

Banned in the USA.

 

[Wish Wellingtons]

I knew some **** would see this and make a fuss about it. The fact is that fried chicken has no relevance to the black population of the west indies. If you had him bribe them with a big dirty joint and a bottle of rum you might have a case (though these stereotypes are worked on all the time and the windies really couldn't care less it seems).

It's racist to assume that all black people have cultural connections to the African Americans even though they have probably never been to America, just because they are black. That is where the racism lies, in the assumption that black people have a genetic inclination to eat fried chicken, which seems to be the view of the ignorant American public.

KFC serve fried chicken, what else are they going to advertise? When they dis ads with barmy army poms there was no problem, and now that the windies are touring they are they obvious candidates?

How do Chris Gayle and Dwane bravo etc feel about wearing big KFC logos on their chest playing bigbash? I'm sure they don't give a **** as it has no cultural relevance and racism in this context only exists if you perceive it to be there.

 

[YOTC]

We better not show them the KFC ad from the ninties with 'hot and spicy'

Where the windies are deciding if they are going to bat or bowl.

KFC left the ad open to far too much interpretation.

 

[Wish Wellingtons]

You don't hear Aussies complaining to the Yanks about their racist episode of the Simpsons...