KFC ad labelled 'racist' by US commentators

news.com.au ^ | 6th January 2010

[naturalman1975]

AN ad by KFC Australia showing a man giving fried chicken to West Indies fans has been labelled racist in the US.

In the "cricket survival guide" ad, an Australian fan named Mick asks viewers "Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" after being surrounded by cheering West Indies fans.

He then shares a bucket of KFC chicken with fans around him to calm the situation.

The video has caused a huge stir in the US after it was posted on YouTube. The ad has been seen by some in the US as a reference to racial stereotype that African Americans eat fried chicken.

User "ThunderCurls" posted the ad on the video sharing website with the title "Racist KFC advertisement?"

The description states "How do you survive a crowd of "awkward" black people? According to KFCs latest advertisement a bucket of fried chicken will do the trick".

The video has caused a lot of debate, attracting more than 200,000 views and 2000 comments.

KFC Australia has acknowledged that the ad could be perceived as racist. It said the ad had been "misinterpreted by a segment of people in the US" in a statement released this morning.

"It is a light-hearted reference to the West Indian cricket team," KFC said.

"The ad was reproduced online in the US without KFC's permission, where we are told a culturally-based stereotype exists, leading to the incorrect assertion of racism.

[naturalman1975]

And how about the prejudice of American commentators who fail to understand that while there are real similarities, Australia's culture is not identical to that of the United States, and we don't have the same racial issues in our history (we have our own). In Australia, there is no cultural stereotype that black people eat fried chicken - and West Indians are not African-Americans either. We've got Americans applying their beliefs about race to Australians and West Indians... what do you call that?

[Rodebrecht]

RACISM!

Do I get a cookie now?

[notaliberal]

Do they or don’t they eat fried chicken? Honestly, some people will find anything to scream racist! Nobody has a problem when a white guy is made to look dumb in a commercial. It happens all the time. The wife and the kids are always smarter than the “stupid dad.”

[Williams]

I’ve heard this crap before. What possible racial insult can it be if African Americans eat fried chicken???

Is there some moral or intellectual inferiority associated with enjoying fried chicken? I love fried chicken.

Do Italians like lasagna? Do Germans drink beer? What possible harm is there in associating a group with a food?

So far as I know African Americans enjoy a lot of sweet potato pie as well. As do I. Did I just insult them?

[irishtenor]

At least it wasn’t watermelon :>)

[beaversmom]

My husband was talking with a couple of black neighbors. The black men got to ooing and awing over fried chicken and watermelon. My husband told them, “That’s racist!” They all got a good chuckle.

[gwilhelm56]

OK... ever heard of the “BOY that Cried WOLF” .. well we just met the ASS**** that Cried RACIST..

NOW, Gimmee some of that CHICKEN... any COLESLAW left??

If that is ..RACIST..guess what.. The PROBLEM IS YOURS.. not mine.

[hsalaw]

I don’t understand this. What’s racist about chicken?

[beaversmom]

My half-aunt on my dad’s side was always suspicious that she was in fact a “high yellow” since both she and my dad’s lineage was somewhat of a mystery. Since I’m a big fan of watermelon, fried chicken, and sweet potato pie, I think I may be one too.

[naturalman1975]

See - I knew I’d get some intelligent comments from Americans here to dilute the head shaking I was doing after reading the accusations this commercial was racist...

[killjoy]

The ad has been seen by some in the US as a reference to racial stereotype that African Americans eat fried chicken.

Um... They do. So do a lot of non-hyphenated Americans.

[beaversmom]

Gee that sounds good right now.

[eyedigress]

I eat fried-chicken and I’m as white as the silent snow that drapes a cold winters eve.

[thecodont]

That is real poetry!

[mkjessup]

True dat.

[Chgogal]

Oh, the HuffingtonPuffington Post had to comment, well then, let them eat snails next time around and call it french fried escargot. Will that make the uber-accedemic elitists feel better? Honestly, the loony left is becoming more ridiculous by the second. Ignore the oversensitive moronic left wing common sense challenged imbeciles. The ad is fine.

[eyedigress]

:)

[chicken head]

[TChad]

The description states "How do you survive a crowd of "awkward" black people?

There is no such description. The guy stuck in the crowd says, "Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" There is nothing about "awkward black people."

More of the usual desperation to find racism where there is none.

[max americana]

I have Italian blood in me. And no I wont be offended if you think I work in the garbage disposal business, eat lasagna everyday and have a funny moustache.