Archive for April, 2009
China protests Mao sperm ad
April 20th, 2009
The news
“Don’t bring the next Mao into the world. Use a condom.”
Following an outcry in China, Doc Morris Pharmacies has officially apologised to the Chinese government over an ad representing Mao as a sperm cell.
Two other ads represent Hitler and Osama Bin Laden as human spermatozoids to promote the use of condoms.
The campaign appeared only in Germany, but was picked up by Chinese bloggers and the Communist Party’s People Daily.
Last year following similar protests, car-maker Citroen apologized to China for a Spanish campaign portraying Mao.
Burger King upsets Mexico.
April 15th, 2009
The news
The ambassador of Mexico in Spain issued a formal protest to Burger King after the airing of a TV commercial in Spain.
He said that the commercial: “improperly used the stereotypical image of Mexicans” to promote the Texican, a flame-grilled Whopper topped with taco-coated chilli con carne and spicy jalapenos.
The Texican is described in the commercial as “the taste of Texas with a little spicy Mexican”.
It shows a tall Texan cowboy living with a short Mexican wrestler. The print ad version shows the short wrestler wearing the Mexican flag as a cloak (disrespect to the Mexican flag is considered an offense in Mexico).
The Ambassador Jorge Zermeño asked Burger King to pull the ad and also apologise for offending Mexican cuisine.