Remember on Friday when we posted about the stupendously tone-deaf KXL billboard in Chinatown?
The post set off something of a firestorm and, though KXL hasn’t answered my queries about the thing, they’ve told OPB they’ll take it down.
According to a copy of their statement floating around the web, KXL says:
Regarding the KXL Billboard. It’s a famous quote from an old rap song, we thought it would get attention but in no way meant disrespect to anyone. This was a decision from the Marketing and Programming Department. However, after our News Department came to us and said they believed it to be insensitive, we decided to change the message. That change is in process now.
A lot has been said about the decision to display this quote in this part of town. Probably my favorite comes from the Merc’s own Bobby Roberts, who posted the following comments Saturday:
Indeed, Bobby. Indeed.
We’re sorry, we didn’t mean to be racist. We just wanted to express that you, our faithful listeners, make us so horny.
Five dollars!? That’s a terrific value!
I’m surprised they didn’t tamper with the L’s.
Thank you!
So the marketing department did this on their own, and the heroic news department later recognized it was insensitive? Whew, good thing KXL was there to save the day.
When asked to comment, KXL replied “We so saaaaawy!”
All this from a city that more than willingly eradicated one of its Asian communities — the Japanese — once located in the very spot now known as Chinatown. Yep, Portland is so liberal.
http://www.blueoregon.com/2013/10/when-por…
For all our cultural illiterates here in the Rose City, here’s the one & only original reference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hch3HL8gPT…
Rumor is KXL’s replacement billboard will say “Portland Don’t Hide It, Just Divide It.”