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Chicken conglomerate KFC is claiming that a controversial ad playing in Australia wasn't racist, even though it shows a white man passing out a bucket of chicken to raucous black sports fans sitting near him.
The ad, which has been pulled by KFC, was never intended for U.S. broadcast, but when it was posted on YouTube, the ad caused a stir worldwide.
The commercial features a white Australian cricket fan looking exasperated as black supporters of a rival team are loudly cheering. The white fan asks aloud how to get out of an "awkward situation." He then whips out a bucket of KFC chicken, and the black fans greedily start munching.
A racial conflagration is averted, and the white man says aloud, "Too easy."
There is no doubt that if you are looking to be offended, the commercial supplies plenty of ammo. Here in the United States, the stereotype of black people loving fried chicken has been a staple of racist jokes for generations.
But before we start planning a national boycott of KFC or asking Jesse Jackson to intervene, do we know if that same fried chicken stereotype exists in Australia. It's hard to believe KFC would intentionally alienate black chicken consumers in Australia with a blatantly racist ad involving fried chicken.
This is clearly a debate that got heated in the translation from Australian to American.
Comments: (83)
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By: Donna on 1/07/2010 11:44AM
This is another culture. Sometimes when people have been other places/experienced other paradigms they think their way of seeing things is, first, the correct way, but secondly, the only way. Here that ad would be racist. Elsewhere it's just people eating chicken. EVERYONE eats chicken. The Blacks-and-chicken jokes are baseless.
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By: Vickiss on 1/07/2010 12:09PM
I wonder how the Aboriginals feel about it.
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By: Tired of Poor ME attitude on 1/07/2010 1:10PM
If you think this is racist you have a HUGE chip on you shoulder!
The White Guy was the one with the Chicken!
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By: curtis alderman on 1/09/2010 8:24PM
i'm a black man and i agree with you everbody eats chichen no matter who give it to them
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By: beydmosky on 1/10/2010 8:21PM
I think this is a situation where the race mongers have taken the bait! was the guy uncomfortable because he was obviously rooting for the wrong team or because he was a white guy?
Either way, look at all the free publicity KFC got outta this. Lots of mileage. I'm sure they feel bad about having to pull the ad. Free chicken for race mongers?
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By: WHAT on 1/07/2010 2:19PM
In this day and age of internet KFC should have know that it would be placed on the internet for the world to see. Shame on them.
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By: lxelove on 1/07/2010 2:22PM
naturally blacks will think the commercial is racist...hello this country was and still is too concerned with race. i would like say that it isnt but then again where's everyone else in this commercial? i doubt that only whites and blacks live in Australia right? thats like the stupid "asians cant drive" stereotype...completely dumb
i honestly think its kinda funny...im black. But im not offended. people keep saying things like " im sick of the poor me attitude" and "get over it" I think KFC being as large of a company as they are should have a little more taste and class with what the chose to show to the public.
Honestly i wish other people would get over it!
when are we gonna see a commercial with a black athlete in an "awkward situation" pulling out a bucket of chicken in a crowd full of whites? i have yet to see that.
S o to all the non black people : GET OVER IT!
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By: Katherine on 1/07/2010 3:15PM
Now when people of color travel the world and wonder why people have a preconceived attitude about them this is why. What other things are they telling people about you that are not true? We certainly not the only people that eat chicken. A white man had the chicken but did you see him eat any, no! It says if we get loud just give us some chicken and we will be quiet. Its like your giving a baby a bottle or pacifer.
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By: Kim Hale on 1/07/2010 10:02PM
Katherine, I am Australian and you have absolutely no understanding of our culture. This ad was entirely sport related and not race related at all. The ad is an Australian fan seated amongst the West Indian fans which puts him in the difficult situation. This scenario is part of the cricket culture, that you as an American would have no understanding about. Americans need perhaps to keep their noses out of other countries business. Surely part of tolerance and respect is accepting that other cultures may have a different view then your own. I lived in the USA for two years and I really dont think Americans are in a position to judge other cultures. Australians have no bigger racism problem than America does. Also every West Indian who has been interviewed about this ad got it and thought it was funny!!!!. It is also a little arrogant of African Americans to assume every black person shown in an ad anywhere in the world is African American, the people shown in the ad were West Indian!
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By: puddingnpie on 1/10/2010 2:49PM
I so agree with you. Other races do have preconceived notions on how they expect us to behave...remember the blaxploitation movies of the 70's? He got the chicken to keep the black folks quiet so he could enjoy the game in peace.
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