As I was irritated about yesterday, Popchips produced some viral marketing videos featuring a fictional dating service and Ashton Kutcher playing a variety of characters, including an absolutely TERRIBLE brown-face impersonation of an Indian man. The internet let Popchips know in no uncertain terms how they felt about it, and the company has pulled the video, and issued this apology. From Hollywood Reporter:
“We received a lot feedback about the dating campaign parody we launched today and appreciate everyone who took the time to share their point of view,” Keith Belling, the founder and CEO of the company, wrote in a note posted on the company’s website. “Our team worked hard to create a light-hearted parody featuring a variety of characters that was meant to provide a few laughs. We did not intend to offend anyone. I take full responsibility and apologize to anyone we offended.”
And what does Kutcher have to say for himself? The San Francisco Chronicle says that “a spokeswoman for Kutcher hasn’t return messages seeking comment.”
For those of you who missed it, someone was nice enough to post a mirror video of the offending commercial. WATCH IT HERE IF YOU ARE A FAN OF TERRIBLE!!
So the Wayans brothers can do White Girls movies to box office acclaim* (* term used very loosely) yet this ad is racist? Pussies.
@1: That’s one fantastic logical fallacy you’ve cooked up there.
The day we’re having a conversation about blacks in whiteface is a funny day, indeed.
So, I take it that Short Circuit and it’s sequel will be taken off Netflix?