There seems to be no shortage of offensive ads from MNCs and their ad agencies these days. Makes one wonder how disconnected from reality are these people? This example is from GM's Chevrolet's Trax's retro-styled ad titled "After Midnight".
The ad refers to China as "the land of Fu Manchu", where people say "ching-ching, chop suey". While this might have been considered acceptable, even amusing, when the lyrics were originally penned in the US in the 1930s, times have changed. And China is now GM largest market.
"The giant carmaker is now pulling the advertisement from worldwide markets, saying it had received complaints about the "offensive content"." Duh!
In today's media-is-everywhere environment, anything which can be interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as insensitive or offensive, certainly will be. And the media will be there to pick up on it and carry the story globally.
Source:
"GM pulls 'racist' Chevrolet 'ching-ching, chop suey' ad", SCMP, May 3, 2013
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1227375/exclusive-general-motors-pulls-racist-chevrolet-ad-over-ching-ching-chop
CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world. To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.
The ad refers to China as "the land of Fu Manchu", where people say "ching-ching, chop suey". While this might have been considered acceptable, even amusing, when the lyrics were originally penned in the US in the 1930s, times have changed. And China is now GM largest market.
"The giant carmaker is now pulling the advertisement from worldwide markets, saying it had received complaints about the "offensive content"." Duh!
In today's media-is-everywhere environment, anything which can be interpreted, rightly or wrongly, as insensitive or offensive, certainly will be. And the media will be there to pick up on it and carry the story globally.
Source:
"GM pulls 'racist' Chevrolet 'ching-ching, chop suey' ad", SCMP, May 3, 2013
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/article/1227375/exclusive-general-motors-pulls-racist-chevrolet-ad-over-ching-ching-chop
CKB Solutions is all about real solutions for the real world. To learn how we can help your business, contact Greg Kovacic in Hong Kong.
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