April 4, 2012, - 10:29 pm

ABSURD: Burger King Pulls Mary J. Blige Ad After Cries of “RACISM!” – VIDEO

By Debbie Schlussel

Check out the video below of a new ad by Burger King that was just yanked by the fast food chain.  It’s apparently “RACISM!” because it features a has-been, “Nadia’s Theme”-stealing Black pop star (Mary J. Blige) touting Burger King’s chicken snack wrap sandwich.  Yup, the thought police’s newest rule is that if you use a spokesperson/endorser from an ethnic group that stereotypically likes and eats the food being advertised, it’s RACISM!  So, it’s a good thing Murray Lender is dead because, after all, using him in a bagel ad ever again, would be BIGOTRY!!!!

Black America’s race-merchants-in-chief are up in arms against both Burger King AND Blige.  BK is apparently full of racist bigots, and Blige is an Uncle Tom (or Aunt Tomiqua?).  And Blige is now lying, claiming she didn’t approve the ad as it ran, that it “wasn’t what I expected” and wasn’t a finished product.  Huh?  She’s singing the fried chicken sandwich jingle.  Did someone put a gun to her head?  Did she expect something different to come out of her mouth than the words she actually sang? Nope. She knew damn well what she was doing and that there was nothing wrong with it.  But, since has-beens in the Black community can’t be seen as betrayers of “the struggle,” she’s making up this story that she didn’t see the ad as it ran and never wanted that.  It reminds me of Sharon Stone all up in arms over the silver screen wide shot of her naked crotch in “Basic Instinct,” claiming she never knew that was gonna be like that.   Huh?  She willingly went “commando” and allowed a  camera up her skirt.  What did she think it was about?


But the Burger King ad is far more tame and not at all offensive.  Does this mean that Hispanic people can never market tacos?  That Asians can never show their face in ads for moo goo gai pan?  Who the heck do they think invented these foods?  Fried chicken was actually a great contribution by Black people.  Now, we gotta bend over backward about this?  It’s not like anyone is saying only Black people eat fried chicken, or that Burger King is showing Blige eating fried chicken.  She’s singing a fricking song.  Puh-leeze. There is no need for the absurd collective “No You Di’in’t.”

In a couple of days, I’ll begin to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Passover. We’ll be eating matzoh and matzoh ball soup and all kinds of traditionally Jewish food. A smart food company that produces these eats uses Jewish stuff to market it to its traditional audience: Jews. But using the logic of the race-baiting morons who put the kabosh on the Burger King ad, the companies that produce this stuff should now use Yao Ming in its marketing campaign. Now not allowed: anyone with last names ending in “ein” or “witz.” Got that? In fact, I’m insulted by the restaurant chain name, “Einstein Bros. Bagels.” Anything other than “Jajuan’s and Jesus’ Bagels” is unacceptable and offensive. The word “shmear”–time for a protest! For the record, I don’t even like bagels (or lox). But I’d be a fraud if I got offended when someone called these traditionally Jewish-American foods (at least, beginning with Jewish immigrants to America circa the early to mid-1900s).

What people seem to forget is that the Burger King ad featured a White dude, asking what is in the Burger King crispy fried chicken sandwich. Maybe that’s racism since it shows a White guy being stupid. Mary J. Blige merely answers him by singing. I doubt they chose her because she’s Black. Justin Bieber, who’d draw in more customers than Blige, was too expensive. But let’s say they chose Blige to appeal to Black audiences. So, what? That’s a big part of BK’s clientele. Let’s be honest. That’s who they’re trying to reach (along with the White guy in the ad). When companies like Burger King put in ads that they are an equal opportunity employer and that they are seeking minority franchisees, isn’t that even more racist??? Yup, but that kind of racism is allowed. It’s just so hypocritical.

And, to take the illogic of the idiots who got the BK ad pulled to its illogical conclusion, we should probably honor Farrah Fawcett during the next Black History month. Using anyone with a less pale complexion during that month-long commercial appeal to Black people would be “RACISM!!!!”

And, while we’re at it, I think Bill Cosby and Oprah would be great candidates for self-tanner ads. Using White people would be racist stereotyping.

You know that’s right.




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43 Responses

Yup. Its hilarious that blacks liking fried chicken, collared peas and watermelon is a stereotypical slur!

If people like certain foods, its ethnic pride, not racism. But the race merchants and idiots in Black America think everything is an imagined slight against them.

I thought with the election of Obama in this country, we went beyond race. Silly me!

NormanF on April 4, 2012 at 10:55 pm

    Well, well… I have to tell you all that WHITE people in the SOUTH have been eating fried chicken, collards and blackeyed peas and cornbread for as long IF not longer than blacks.

    What gives them the RIGHT to claim that food as soul food anyway.

    THE first receipe for fried chicken known to man is actually FRENCH from the 16th century… HA! soul food!

    Boo hiss BK…. last burger we will ever order from ya’ll.And we only go there when we travel anyway…’cause the grandkids like fast food sometimes..

    BK!!! you are COWARDS!

    Alabama Pride on April 5, 2012 at 8:27 pm

Thanks for another honest post. I rolled my eyes when I saw this was the latest in the race wars. Thanks Obama=Putin. Only the racist morons that lined up to vote for you because you’re half-black are the same type to be offended by this non offensive commercial.

I’m more offended by Mary J. lying her ass off.

Didn’t something for “neighbourhood watch” get censored or dropped too? Gosh, how did we fall so far and get so bloody pathetic?????

Skunky on April 5, 2012 at 12:21 am

    From Junk Food to the Sublime:

    Apparently, there is a movie coming out called “Jiro dreams of Sushi,” about the best sushi chef in the world, and his 3 star Michelin restaurant (1 star is almost hard, two stars is damn near impossible, and there are 11 restaurants in Tokyo with 3 stars—only 4 in New York City, America’s ultimate food destination—Tokyo has the most in the world.).

    Roger Ebert could not understand the fascination with perfection and the narrow focus of the Sushi master. Of course, Rog has problems with rigor and precision, being a dhimmi Liberal. I don’t care for sushi, but I’m interested in this film. I’m always interested in watching the best at anything useful.

    For example, in the city that Rog lives in, there are no three star restaurants. Charlie Trotter’s is a TWO star restaurant. Frisco has none; the Napa valley has one.

    I’d love to see if Debbie can review this film sometime.

    Occam's Tool on April 6, 2012 at 5:11 pm

Oh, and another way to prove this is horsesh**. America loves chicken to eat more than any other animal.

Picture this…me rounding up a certain demographic and taking ’em all to a place where TWO types a restaurants are side by side…a vegan vegetarian joint with tasty tofu (I love it when done proper) and a Burger King.

What is the ratio of those who would nosh at the BK? I’d sat 6 for every 1.

And depending on my mood, I just may choose BK over the vegan joint. This uproar is utter BS!

Skunky on April 5, 2012 at 12:26 am

Why stop with just the fried chicken stereotype? The Thought Police could also object to a black singer since it’s a stereotype that all blacks have “rhythm”. The singing in this piece sucks enough that I guess that line of reasoning wouldn’t apply to this commercial though.

CornCoLeo on April 5, 2012 at 12:34 am

It reminds me of Sharon Stone all up in arms over the silver screen wide shot of her naked crotch in “Basic Instinct,” claiming she never knew that was gonna be like that. Huh? She willingly went “commando” and allowed a camera up her skirt. What did she think it was about?

Did anyone see the spoof FATAL INSTINCT? The lawyer/cop protagonist has a Kleenex-type dispenser of panties in his desk drawer. When a woman sits opposite him, Sharon Stone fashion, he tosses her a pair.

Miranda Rose Smith on April 5, 2012 at 1:57 am

Now I’m going to have to buy some stuff at Walmart and then hit the BK drive thru just to help break the b.s. boycotts. Too bad Coke already folded in the voter fraud I.D. stance. Taliban, and the chinese have to be laughing their balls off.

samurai on April 5, 2012 at 2:34 am

Debbie how can you not like bagels or cream cheese? I believe bagels are one of the best creations. Normally I would call someone who didn’t like them communist, but I know that is not the case here. I am stunned. I don’t understand how anyone could not like bagels or the cremy, creamy cream cheese. It is a heavenly combination. I understand the Lox, I don’t like that either. Oh well more bagels and cream cheese for me. I shall do my best to cover your share. I guess I can rationalize it by saying you are helping to maintain balance. I miss Murray, those were good commercials. I guess they shouldn’t portray Chicagoans as pizza eating, sausage eating, beer guzzling thugs. Even though we pretty much are.

MarkSwFL on April 5, 2012 at 5:11 am

    Debbie how can you not like bagels or cream cheese?

    Dear Mr. SwFl: Have you heard, has anyone besides me heard, that the hole in the bagel was used by immigrant Jews doing piecework in the sweatshops? They didn’t dare take time for lunch, so they hung bagels over the machine.

    Miranda Rose Smith on April 5, 2012 at 8:11 am

Love your work Debbie keep it up.

MarkSWFL on April 5, 2012 at 5:16 am

I think someone should put a bounty on Blige.

David on April 5, 2012 at 7:58 am

Here comes the Jesse Jackson shakedown. Al Sharpton will organize a thousand march to burger king now.

Sal on April 5, 2012 at 8:35 am

I guess Mary K. Blige just isn’t important enough for the black racist police to back off.

Does anyone really think that lunatics like Sharpton would go after all the Black entertainment and athletic celebrities who make millions upon millions from their endorsements? They wouldn’t dare. It is just like bullies everywhere go after the minor people who would have a hard time fighting back.

Little Al on April 5, 2012 at 8:39 am

And re Miranda Rose Smith’s comment, is that why donuts have holes also?

Little Al on April 5, 2012 at 8:45 am

    I don’t know.

    Miranda Rose Smith on April 5, 2012 at 9:02 am

Much Ado aboot nothing here. Ron Paul 2012!

Steve Epps on April 5, 2012 at 9:58 am

I’m a BK man, and frankly we can’t keep the wraps on the shelf…flying out to all kinds of people and not a word of racism or any contraversary. Too many newspapers, blogs, web sites, AOL’s and Yahoo’s and Google searches…this country needs to get to work, too many people think this constant she said, he said, she wore, he wore, she did, he did stuff going on is not so damm funny…the Chinese and the other parts of the world are flying by us. Wake up, put that phone and lap top down and find something constructive to do.

Mike C on April 5, 2012 at 10:19 am

my favorite is fried chicken,watermelon and black eyed peas,does this make me an honorary black or a racist?

BRUCE on April 5, 2012 at 11:08 am

“Thought police” is an inappropriate term in this case, as there’s no government involved. The Burger King Corporation is a PRIVATE company. If you want to influence their decisions better get your checkbook. No need to splurge, though! All you need to acquire is 51% of their voting stock.

// End of cynicism

If some consumers get offended: “But EVERYBODY knows that we in the South put the BBQ sauce BEFORE cooking, not after!”, the manufacturer will only be happy to oblige.

You know the rules for canceling your vanity license plate (after it has been approved and issued)? All it takes is ONE person to find it offensive.

Cambride Ray on April 5, 2012 at 11:26 am

So now Burger King is bending over backwards because race hustlers like Al not so Sharpton and Jessie Hymietown Jackson are offended! I’m more offended that MJB is lying her ample ass off about the whole thing. Didn’t you sigh a contract with BK? Like Debbie said no one held a gun to your head. Race merchants in this country are now emboldened with their stupid behavior. It’s my lunch hour here at work. I’m so mad (and hungry) right now that I’m going to go to Chick-fil-a and get me a number one with a sweet tea. I guess that makes me an Uncle Tom huh.

Ken b on April 5, 2012 at 11:42 am

Proof-positive that some peeps have way too much time on their hands.

I’m still waiting for the “Trayvon 2012” campaign to run its course.

If you had that kind of attitude in ancient Sparta, you’d be tossed off a cliff. That would be YOUR entitlement.

The Reverend Jacques on April 5, 2012 at 11:47 am

This morning, every time Doc Thompson played the audio of the commercial the African Grey I was visiting went nuts and started whistling, hooting and singing. It was hysterical!

He liked it. He thinks humans are ridiculous!

Skunky on April 5, 2012 at 12:21 pm

BK just provided them with an excuse, and face it, that is all the race baiters need. They spend most of their time looking for one…ANY one.

Kent on April 5, 2012 at 12:23 pm

Wouldn’t it be great if somebody would write a novel satirizing this kind of hysterical nonsense. (insert coughing fit here).

Ari on April 5, 2012 at 12:49 pm

What is freaking hilarious is that IMHO, Burger King has done far more out reach to the African American community than McDonalds or any other chain over the past years.

God I love it when liberals eat their own.

SFC_Swede on April 5, 2012 at 1:09 pm

You friggin Pollack Heeb, yous!!! You are not black. You inherently are unable to understand the black struggle. Signed, Pollack Holy Rolling Heeb N***r Lover

Visteo on April 5, 2012 at 1:14 pm

Rac-ist [rey-sist]noun – A term used to describe a white person with whom you can’t win the argument.

chingle on April 5, 2012 at 1:16 pm

This post is made me hungry, Debbie!

A couple of points” I think it’s bizarre that someone would assert that blacks should be ashamed of the stereotype about food. First, while I’m sure not all blacks love fried chicken, and who cares even if most blacks might? It’s a great food. In fact, soul food is among the finest, if not the the finest, cuisine in the world.

When I was at school in Detroit, I had a wonderful friend at the job I was working – a sweet little old black lady who sort of took me under her wing- and every Sunday she would bring me a plate from her weekly church dinner. Collard greens, macaroni and cheese, ribs, corn bread, chitlins, thick slices of ripe tomato – my head is swimming thinking about how delectable and luscious every morsel was. And, as an Italian, myself, who takes food rather seriously, I don’t pass out praise on food unless it’s damn good.

Why on earth would anyone want ethnic American blacks to be ashamed of some of the tastiest ethnic cooking there is?

DS_ROCKS! on April 5, 2012 at 1:25 pm

Why should the Justice Brothers be ashamed of American ethnic cuisine?

No one is forcing black Americans to eat fried chicken. But to insist they’re insulted if they do, has got to be one of the most laughably stupid arguments for “racism” I’ve ever heard.

And it trivializes real racism.

NormanF on April 5, 2012 at 2:01 pm

so did Mary J. give Burger king back their money?

doubt it

Artie Fufkin on April 5, 2012 at 2:10 pm

    She most likely will not give back the money they paid her to make the commercial, but she will lose a BUNCH of money because they won’t be SHOWING the commercial. People who make these commercials get paid for a day of work, but they get residuals every single time the commercial is on TV. If an ad doesn’t run, they don’t get paid. And since she backed down and is trying to backpedal her involvement (she probably WROTE the jingle) I doubt they will ever hire her again. Or that any other ad agency will use her. she’s shooting herself in the financial foot. Hope her homies appreciate it.

    DG in GA on April 6, 2012 at 6:00 pm

Only a racist would see this commercial and immediately think racism. I watched it and I still don’t understand what is racist about it.

Hopewell on April 5, 2012 at 2:31 pm

What’ll be called racism next, JLo singing for Taco Bell?

Lee on April 5, 2012 at 3:25 pm

Yeah, I don’t see the racism. It’s just a hokey commercial and jingle.

But Mary J Blige isn’t a has-been. All of her recent albums (since 2000) have debuted in the top ten of at least one of the major Billboard charts (usually multiple), and several have been #1 sellers. Her most recent album debuted at #5 on the Top 200, and done moderate/middling charting internationally.

It’s like saying “Ann Coulter, with her string of best-selling books, has only sold a couple million of her newest offering. WHAT A HASBEEN.”

Robert on April 5, 2012 at 3:48 pm

Oh, I forgot the opening sentence from her Wiki page:

Mary J. Blige is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and occasional rapper and actress. She is a recipient of nine Grammy Awards and four American Music Awards, and has recorded eight multi-platinum albums. She is the only artist with Grammy Award wins in Pop, Rap, Gospel, and R&B.

ONLY SIX OF THOSE GRAMMIES ARE FROM THE PAST FIVE YEARS. WHAT A HAS-BEEN.

Robert on April 5, 2012 at 3:53 pm

So what do they have to say about all those McDonald’s commercials marketing to the black community?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI-xHMM8wXE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIF4Z6ogr6s&feature=endscreen

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuLDoMRwUvM

BTW, here’s a skit of a news program spoofing such things:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G79t752Vy9o

Alan on April 5, 2012 at 3:56 pm

This is what happens when a company tries to niche market. Sell the products to everyone. How about trying that for a change. I’m glad Burger King is getting heat.

JeffT on April 5, 2012 at 4:55 pm

This is a good piece Debbie.

The message of all coms is well thought out and rehearsed ad infinitum to get it right. This one is designed to appeal to blacks. Sorry but that is what I see.

The actor, the agent etc., everybody signs off on this crap before it goes out the door to be seen by millions.

Having a white guy at the counter ordering and then the black rapper singing the benefits of the chicken thing is incongruous though.

I do not see any racism.

Panhandle on April 5, 2012 at 5:12 pm

I see no racism in this commercial. Who does? Who are “they” who do?

Mary J. Blige has a responsibility to herself as “they” are affecting her wallet. She needs to tell “them” to cut the crap. She COULD be a real change agent here by speaking out and stating that there is no racism in this and that people need to stop the race-baiting. In doing so, she could help the nation.

Jeanine on April 5, 2012 at 8:59 pm

Debbie I am glad you don’t like bagels and lox, which is gross anyway, so long as you don’t mind making it for me whilst you prepare your once a day alfalfa and watercress on crispy rice meal or whatever it is pretty girls eat.

A1 on April 5, 2012 at 9:24 pm

I personally don’t know a single person that doesn’t like chicken, especially fried. I wonder if the folks who cried racism (& BTW, who are they?!) own stock in Mickey-D’s and simply don’t want the competition?

theShadow on April 6, 2012 at 10:43 am

Debbie, this little faux paux is similar to several years when Taco Bell was running their commercial with Gidget, a chihuahua that talked due a slick computer graphics(funny how many people really believed the dog could talk!). The RAZA and other Hispanic/mmigrant “rights” groups were crying foul because they claim that other people will start thinking Hispanics as dog everytime they see the Taco Bell commercials. Due to their pressure, Taco Bell took down the adds and made no more due to the protests of these thought police. Pepsi will claim that the owner of the chihuahua was asking too much for using it on tv but I read that when the chihuahua died due to old age, that the Pepsi Co. Said they services will no longer be needed.

My point to all this silliness is that the liberals/leftist/race baiters are continuing the “race problem” and not conservatives as they claim. If people continue to listen to these people and follow their agenda, we will continue to tear our nation at the seams.

Mario on April 6, 2012 at 7:55 pm

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