Yum! Brands yanks ad and apologizes http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2010/04/15/Yum-Brands-yanks-ad-and-apologizes/UPI-84571271359476/
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (UPI) -- Yum! Brands, parent company for KFC, said a television ad that ran in Australia and was criticized by the Rev. Jesse Jackson had been pulled off the air. Chief public affairs officer for Yum! Brands Jonathan Blum said, "we apologize," for an ad that showed a white sports fan calming rival fans at a cricket match, who are black, by presenting a bucket of KFC chicken to a boisterous crowd. "Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" the voice-over asks. "Too easy. KFC's crowd pleaser. A huge variety of delicious chicken and plenty of tasty sides," the voice-over continues, the Louisville, Ky., Courier-Journal reported Thursday. Blum said the ad ran "for a very short time -- a few days -- before we heard about it … found it offensive and took it off the air." Rev. Jackson called the ad "insulting and racially insensitive," and said he would protest the ad at a Yum! Brands shareholder meeting on May 20. Jackson said a "diverse advertising agency would know it is insulting. Yum must assume responsibility for their actions." Blum said the company operates in 112 countries and that advertising is vetted at the local level. He also defended the company's track record on diversity. -- TV or Not TV .... The Smartest (TV) People! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en
