KFC has pulled the 'racist tv ad' from the air in Australia
The internet has spoken! The 'Racist KFC TV Ad' that has caused world-wide controversy has been pulled off of the air by KFC Australia.
Australians watching the commercial saw nothing wrong with it as the connotation that black people love fried chicken is an American stereotype. However, once the ad hit Youtube and Americans started viewing it, uproar ensued.
The internet has since been abuzz with debates over whether or not KFC's ad was racist or not. You can watch the video HERE.
People of all races and nationalities have commented on the commercial, with some declaring it 'racist' and some just calling it 'boring'. Whatever the rationale for the commerical, KFC Australia is saying even though there was no thought of racism when it was shown in Australia, it has still been pulled from the TV.
My article 'Racist KFC TV AD: Fried Chicken, Black People and Cricket Make People Talk (Video)' has a wide variety of comments and viewpoints on the ad that display how polarizing talks of race can be.
Comments
Silly decision by KFC Australia to pull the add in knee jerk response. Why match one over reaction with another. The ad was perfectly legitimate in the context of its' market and the series of ads "KFC cricket survival tips'. This series of ads is all about quieting down the crowd to so the spectator can watch the cricket. West indies cricket fans are well reknown for the festival like atmosphere they bring to the match.
Australians love their cricket and good humoured rivalry is ever present be it in an international competition against England, West Indies, New Zealand or Pakistan; as well as interstate competitions within Australia. Furthermore we laugh at ourselves as much as we 'pay off', or in other words 'tease' other people. The greatest compliment in Australia and to know that you are accepted in a group, is to be teased. My husband is a red head and a Kiwie (New Zealander), to boot. And although our two Pacific Nations are 'cousins', there is intense rivalry. Americans would shudder to hear the 'racist' comments he receives all in the name of mateship. Undertand please that this is harmless AUSTRALIAN humour. Please Examiner, place this comment in your newspaper to gain an Australian perspective of harmless fun.
Why didn't KFC just throw in a pack of menthol cigarettes, a watermellon, and some gin n' juice?
Cultural differences are fascinating. Multinationals like KFC often tread cautiously when there is criticism, legitimate or not. With the Internet, there are no longer any secrets.
Much ado about nothing!
I didn't see it when it ran, but would not have seen it as racist, mostly because I never put a race association with fried chicken. I am from Alabama and in our area fried chicken is seen as down home Southern comfort food. As long as I can remember it was associated with Sunday dinner, picnics, and family get togethers. I had always associated it more with a region than a race and if I had to pin fried chicken on a specific racial group, I would probably associate it more with Southern whites, mostly because that's where I come from and how I grew up eating. It was close to a friendly local competition as to who could make the best fried chicken. I never won that one, but it was pretty close to contact sport serious. Folks were serious about their fried chicken where I grew up.
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