"It is a light-hearted reference leading to the incorrect assertion of racism."

[Amerigo Vespucci]

Video @ the URL below.

KFC Ad -- OK for Australia, Racist for US?

Posted Jan 6th 2010 12:40PM by TMZ Staff

Placating a crowd of black people with a bucket of chicken is considered good marketing by Kentucky Fried Chicken in Australia -- but it's causing a bit of a fervor here in the States.

The ad shows a very distressed white guy, surrounded by a crowd of black people at a cricket match, who wonders, "Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" He gets out of the "awkward situation" by handing them a bucket of chicken.

A rep for KFC Australia told a local paper, "It is a light-hearted reference to the West Indian cricket team ... 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."

We called the reps for KFC here in America -- still waiting to hear back.

http://www.tmz.com/2010/01/06/kfc-australia-racist-commercial-kentucky-fried-chicken/

[Buzz Clik]

1. It's a fine line between rank insensitivity and racism.

Rather than second guessing the motives of those who composed the commercial, it's easier attack the message: That commercial smacks of racial stereotyping and is offensive to a lot of people.

[Walk away]

2. Is Michael Steele moonlighting as KFC's marketing consultant?

I detect his subtle hand in this.

[sui generis]

3. so, do Americans even KNOW what cricket is?

I'm sorry - I'm going with honest mistake until proven otherwise.

This is kind of like Joan Rivers at the airport in Nicaragua or wherever - SHOCKED to find out that only people in America know who she is. As if we know every stereotype and second rate celeb in other countries.

Cricket - :rofl:

[Warpy]

4. The problem isn't the game

The problem is the different races being part of the trouble over the game.

Had the people been of all the same race, or had the team members been a rainbow of races, there would have been no problem with this commercial. It might have been mildly amusing instead of offensive.

The image of the rich white guy surrounded by the gang of angry black guys is problematic, as is the stereotypical nature of the bribe.

[sui generis]

5. my sensitivity meter is way down I guess

I haven't seen the ad. Is there a link to it? black guys playing cricket? Maori, south indian, or african?

Rich? There are so many stereotypes at work here I just can't care about any of them.

More rationally, I don't believe that KFC has a hidden racist agenda or that this is just stuff bubbling out of that racist pot. Or the kettle, or whatever. :P

[Amerigo Vespucci]

6. "...Video @ the URL below..." in my OP...that's the link to the ad. n/t

[sui generis]

12. okay just saw it - that was frickin' stupid.

And that was steel drum . . . implying "island", so any cricket context is far less relevant.

A funnier take would be some cracker holding up a bucket of fried chicken around a bunch of harvard professors.

Now that would be a made for MadTV moment.

[Warpy]

8. The makeup of the angry crowd and the race of the guy being threatened

is the racist part. The bribe of fried chicken is only offensive to people in the US.

[sui generis]

13. I guess when you're "white" or "black" everything looks like a race

I did not see "angry people". I don't know that it was racist or merely opposing cricket teams.

Sorry - this hammer sees more than nails.

[ieoeja]

10. But the bribe is only stereotypical in the United States.

And this was not in the US. Making a stereotype claim here is like calling my Bahamian coworker an Africa-American (a sure way to get her riled up).

[Hell Hath No Fury]

7. Did you happen to see the vdeo --

of Harry Connick Jr. appearing on an Aussie show where white comtestants dressed up in blackface and afro wigs to do a Jackson 5 song?

It seems Australia finds this sort of "humor" wildly funny and entertaining.

Check it out here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4DhNJsU2N6Q

[Amerigo Vespucci]

14. Nice to see him make that statement...

...I've had the Cheers Season 10 DVD in heavy rotation on my player lately (he's featured as Woody's cousin in a guest appearance). Nice to know that he not only felt that way but wasn't hesitant to speak out about it.

:patriot:

[proteus_lives]

11. Sure we do. It's baseball's dull cousin.

Cricket is the even more boring version of baseball that Brits, Aussies and Indians love for some reason.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. While it is certain that Australia is not free of racism, does it follow

that racism is expressed in the same way as in America? Racist stereotypes exist in the US concerning fried chicken and watermelon - do those same references mean the same thing in Australia?

Isn't it possible that without that stereotype, it's just a guy connecting to the crowd by distributing a snack that everybody likes so they will see him as with them, despite being in the wrong team's bleachers?

In a US setting, that would be clearly racist - but Australian culture is not US culture, and the cues may be completely different.

[newtothegame]

15. Is this racist?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pyW6w5B7Aw

It's a news story, but everyone they interviewed was black.