KFC Pulls "Racist" Australian TV spot

@DrewDad,

DrewDad wrote:

I think pulling the ad is a calculated move. Outrage over an ad is a flash-in-the-pan. Pulling the ad makes more of a splash. (If I may mix my metaphors...)

That's positively Machiavellian!

I doubt that much thinking has gone into it!

1 Reply

@Setanta,

Ignoring the personal insults..

The question DJ raised was why do the newspaper always report (as especially troubling) when someone hangs a noose outside the office of an African-American.

The use of a noise, a highly offensive and unmistakably racist symbol, is newsworthy.

DJ was using this silly point to suggest that white people are disadvantaged in the US (i.e. crimes against white people aren't reported).

2 Replies

@ebrown p,

ebrown p wrote:

Shewolf...

Do you really want to stop people from talking about racism?

Nope. Not at all.

ebrown p wrote:

It seems to me that you are trying to shut them up (not the other way round).

Nope. Not at all. (again)

In fact I am trying to ask the question that I think goes to the core of the issue.
WHY do we and WHY are we looking constantly for the slightest racist meaning in everything?
Not at all saying dont talk about it. Im just trying to bring up a point that i think is the underlining meaning to much of this. And that is that I think we are just teaching ourselves to look at possible race issues before anything else and it is making things difficult and sometimes twisted.
I agree with you with everything.. I think i am just coming from a different stand point.

I see the possible racist statement this ad could make.
I also see how it ISNT racist to another society.
And I do see why KFC pulled it.

But Im looking at all three of those points trying to find a common string and to me the common string seems to hum the tune " we think this way so you have to too" ( among other thoughts)

1 Reply

@dlowan,

Yes. I understand that it was not MEANT to be racist at all. I do love Kentucky Fried Chicken and I am happy the ad was pulled.

Why? Because maybe although it was not MEANT to be patronizing and condescending in a paternalistically racist (as in this case white/black) sort of way - it could be interpreted that way. And that could be offensive to some people. And I'm glad Kentucky Fried Chicken recognized that.

And this is not only in America. If you think about the history of the colonization of various countries around the world, including Australia as well as the United States - this characterization is stereotypical and I don't like it. I wouldn't like it if it was a bunch of Indian people and the white guy was handing out chunks of Naan bread or if it was a bunch of women and the guy was handing out diamond rings - what it depicted was someone who was acting like a responsible adult handling people who weren't.

Why did they choose West Indian people? It may have been totally innocent. It could simply have been so they could include the fun music. But the scenario in which it was used was condescending and patronizing.

I'm glad they pulled it.

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@dlowan,

dlowan wrote:

Quote:
But isnt this imposing someone elses morals, values and ethics onto someone else? the someones in this case being societies..
Why should Australia now have to be subjected to censorship that is acceptable in another country but not their own? Why should they be required to think like the US and shun that commercial?

If it WERE racially offensive here, the same bloody morals and ethics would apply!!!

It simply isn't offensive.

Only US context makes it offensive.

It isn't about whether morals and ethics apply, it's about whether something is an offence against them.

It was designed for an audience which would see no reason to think racially about the ad.

this is exactly my point.
And why i am asking the question and wondering why Australia now has to remove an ad that has no place in America simply because some americans are pissed off.

It isnt shown here.
We dont play cricket
Our go to guy with a common face only asks " can you hear me now"
he doesnt hand out chicken.

I live in the country that does make the reference to black people and chicken as a rude racist statement. They also use watermelon as a racist statment to blacks.
I can see that here.

I cant see that there... that is the disconnect for me. Where is this line drawn as for who can watch what? and based on whos ideals?

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@shewolfnm,

On the face of it, sitting Indian style seems an odd thing to be disturbed by, but I don't really feel able to comment. We just say cross-legged by the way.

I don't know...I can see that political correctness can get silly, or even harmful...but I think a lot of the outrage expressed over it is just a way to protest about having your nose rubbed in the ugly facts of historical and present reality.

I get hesitant about commenting about US stuff around this anyway, because I think some of the social realities are very different between our two countries, and what I think of as the tone of the political correctness debate is, I think, one of the areas of difference. So I may be debating around Australian realities, when you guys are debating a somewhat different animal.

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@ebrown p,

You have absolutely no basis for assuming that Djjd was suggesting that white people are "disavantaged" in the United States, nor that crimes against white people aren't reported. If they weren't reported, he could not have linked to a report of the incident. Either you are stupid, or you think we are. You're just projecting onto him your stereotype of witless white supremecists, while whining about stereotypes.

He was making the valid point that the Political Rectitude Gestapo (who which i consider you a member) will howl about racism when it serves their political purpose, but remain mute when an event does not further their agenda. You are a perfect example of this attitude.

Violent assault if far more offensive than an insulting racist symbol, no matter what its origin. Violent physical assault needs to be as roundly and loudly condemned by the likes of Jackson and Sharpton.

By the way, you apparently don't pay much attention. The white coworker who got punched out was a woman, not a man. Shall we discuss misogyny and violence by black men, or would your Political Rectitude Gestapo oath forbid that?

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@shewolfnm,

I understand your point too shewolf... it does seem that some people go overboard.

Of course the problem is that there are 300 million of us in the US, each with an opinion. So yes ... "some people" are going to be offended by lots of things many of which I am going to find silly.

I am arguing for the process. Everyone has the ability to raise an issue in public debate. If enough people agree then things will change. I believe in Free Speech. Instead of trying to squelch the debate, we should accept the debate as a part of who we are. This is how our society evolves.

I don't find this ad offensive. But, I think that profit-making companies ducking out of these debates is probably a good idea for them... and taking controversial stands is not what these companies are for.

I think public discussion of race in the US is a good thing overall.

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@snood,

That's because there IS NO GODDAM "this type of thing"about freaking fried chicken!@!!!~

It's not a blind spot when the steenking thing isn't there to be seen!!

Can't you USians get it through your heads that your cultural baggage is not universal!!!

We have our own baggage, but it isn't identical to yours.

Some of you guys freak me out sometimes with your ignorance. It's infuriating to non-Americans.

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@dlowan,

dlowan wrote:

Can't you USians get it through your heads that your cultural baggage is not universal!!!

some of us DO get it.
in fact I know more people who DO get that then dont.

i think in this situation there are too many stand points to be had to make this one flowing conversation.

I understand most sides, but I am standing in awe of having something pulled from another country because of US standards.
Just in awe. And constantly asking the question.. when does this stop. No

But, i live in the borders of US.
im also in awe of the commercial. According to this country, that was a horrible commercial. but.. common sense.. in my brain..
that. isnt. an. american. commercial. Period . So why does american policy dictate?

but.. KFC is an american company.
Ok.
I get it. I really do. So I will stop looking at this one instance and still stand with the general question.. when will it stop.
it is horrible that we still judge everything with a racial tone. I thought we as humans were above this by now.

1 Reply

@dlowan,

dlowan wrote:

That's positively Machiavellian!

I don't think they planned to stimulate an outrage. I do think they took advantage of it.

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@shewolfnm,

Quote:

some of us DO get it.
in fact I know more people who DO get that then dont.

Yes, I know MANY of you do.

I clarified later that it is only SOME of you that I am freaked out by!!

That one got past the keeper...sorry.

(That's a cricket term by the way. Wink

)

Just the use of blind spot in that context was so bloody arrogant and provincial, and unconsciously so, it made me hopping mad.

Pun intended.

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@ebrown p,

i never said not reported, i was more specifically talking about sharpton and jackson, who are disingenuous when it comes to some examples of black on white crime

crime is crime in my eye, regardless of race, if there's an overt racial issue then that should be addressed

if sharpton had said, about the black columbia professor, racial disagreements are no cause for violence (i believe mr. king spoke about that very subject on occasion), and there is no place for violence against women, that would have been great, but nothing was said

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Boomer's "thread titles that are funny when appearing together" offering got me thinking:

boomerang wrote:

KFC Pulls "Racist" Australian TV spot

Not coming to Australia now

Maybe the whole brouhaha about the Indian guy and the subsequent travel advisory, etc. has everyone more on edge than usual? More inclined to avoid any hint of racial insensitivity?

1 Reply

I wonder if Zebra cop with both ends of the stick.

just a thought.... carry on.

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@Eorl,

I couldn't care either way but it's just a COMMERCIAL. Get over it's loss Eorl.

What? Will you personally be losing royalty money because they are no longer being played on television?

1 Reply

@tsarstepan,

That's silly Tsar.

He couldn't give a crap about the commercial...it's the US provincialism and undue power over what airs in another country that is the issue.

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@sozobe,

You think Youtube fans and the US gutter press know about the Indian thing?

Some might...but en masse I doubt it.

1 Reply

@dlowan,

No, I meant KFC deciding to pull it after some outcry started (as opposed to shrugging and saying "whatevs.")

1 Reply

@sozobe,

Oh.

Dunno.

I think companies are pretty quick to pull ads if there's a drama.

0 Replies

KFC Pulls "Racist" Australian TV spot

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