New Burger King Commercial Offends the Mentally Ill

[Brian Damage]

http://www.mefeedia.com/watch/29783642

It was a bad week for fast-food mascots.

In the same period that RetireRonald.com launched to blast the McDonald's clown for luring kids into unhealthy lifestyles, two mental-health organizations expressed anger and dismay over a Burger King advertisement they believe is in poor taste.

The ad in question features the mascot king running through an office building. He breaks a window pane, gives a befuddled-looking woman a sandwich and then is tackled by two white-uniformed medical types.

The king is "crazy" and "insane," the medical types explain, because he wants to give away his sandwich for the low, low price of $3.99!

"I was stunned. Absolutely stunned and appalled," said Michael Fitzpatrick, executive director for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), one of the nation's largest mental-health advocacy organizations.

He called the ad "blatantly offensive" and hopelessly retrograde in its depiction of mental illness, adding that the commercial could lead to further stigmatization, the primary barrier for individuals to seek out treatment.

"We understand edgy," Fitzpatrick said. "But this is beyond edgy. Way beyond."

David Shern, president and chief executive of Mental Health America (MHA) in Alexandria, Va., said the ad, which finished its run this week, was "a perfect storm of images and words coming together," comparing it to an advertisement using the word "idiot" while featuring someone who was mentally challenged. NAMI and MHA sent letters to Burger King asking the advertisement be removed.

Mental-health organizations have spoken out against ad campaigns in the past, such as Vermont Teddy Bear's 2005 Valentine's product, which featured a "Crazy-for-You" teddy in a straitjacket (because nothing says love like restricted arm movement and claustrophobia).

Or a 2007 General Motors commercial in which a robot jumps off a bridge after being fired from the assembly line.

When reached by e-mail, a Burger King spokesman declined an interview request but released a statement reading, in part:

"The creative concepts used to bring this to life were meant to highlight the king's unchecked enthusiasm about giving his guests a steakhouse-quality sandwich at a great price and were not intended to reflect any group or situation."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011511360_mascot03.html

[MickeyMac]

I've seen that Burger King commercial. I dont find if offensive, just dumb.

[catlover79]

ANY commercial with that creepy king mascot offends me!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

[Retro4Life]

ANY commercial with that creepy king mascot offends me!! :eek: :eek: :eek:

Yeah that thing belongs in a David Lynch movie not a national fast food ad campaign. :eek2:

[Dragonflies]

I didn't find it offensive either, just eye roll worthy

[catlover79]

Yeah that thing belongs in a David Lynch movie not a national fast food ad campaign. :eek2:
How about a John Waters flick? :rofl:

[Retro4Life]

How about a John Waters flick? :rofl:

That might work, too. ;)

[catlover79]

That might work, too. ;)
:lol: Or we can forget the new Ghostbusters remake and make it KINGBUSTERS!!! :eek: :crazy: :lol:

[Hollow]

it didn't offend the mentally ill, it offended the attention-whoring crybabies, ill or not. there's no legal or medical definition of the word "crazy," while the legal definition of "insane" isn't restricted to mental illness. hence the plastic freak wasn't necessarily mentally ill, let alone being attacked for it.

having four mental illnesses and one mental disability myself, i can't stand it when "normies" assume that we're all a bunch of thin-skinned ******* and think they need to treat us better than everyone else.

[Dragonflies]

Are they offended when people use the word "crazy" or "insane" out of context too? :rolleyes:

[Dr. Thong]

Oh, brother!:rolleyes:

[steevo]

I'm not offended by it, either, just indifferent like I am most every other commercial.

Slightly OT: The woman he gives the sandwich to.. is that Victoria Jackson (SNL)?

[Marvo301]

I don't think this commercial is offensive at all. I think these mental health groups are just using this as an opportunity to get some publicity for their cause. :rolleyes:

[Liza]

The King is frickin' creepy - they totally need to ditch that whole marketing idea.

That aside, mental health groups are really just splitting hairs if they truly find that stupid thing offensive. :rolleyes:

[Janice]

Just more political correctness run amuck.

[dakert]

I find the Burger King breaking into McDonald's Headquarters kind of head shaking--I am not into stealing :confused:

[catlover79]

The King is frickin' creepy - they totally need to ditch that whole marketing idea.

That aside, mental health groups are really just splitting hairs if they truly find that stupid thing offensive. :rolleyes:
I totally agree -once you think that creepy King is finally gone for good - he always shows back up again. He's just like a fungus that won't stop growing!! :eek: :eek: :eek: You're also totally right about this PC crap. :rolleyes:

[Marvo301]

156936
Now this is creepy!!! (and offensive!!)

[catlover79]

MY EYES!!! MY EYES!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: puke: puke: puke:

[Marvo301]

156937
They should bring back this version of The Burger King!

[catlover79]

156937
They should bring back this version of The Burger King!
I agree - he wouldn't give people nightmares!!

[MickeyMac]

I agree - he wouldn't give people nightmares!!


I second it

[catlover79]

I second it
Plus, the cartoon guy is cute and unthreatening. :nod:

[MickeyMac]

Plus, the cartoon guy is cute and unthreatening. :nod:


Totally.

[catlover79]

:cool: He totally should be brought back. Retro mascots always rule.

[comedyfreak]

These stupid groups who are up in arms need to get a life! I agree bring back the retro mascot he rules.

[cyberalias81]

Yeah that thing belongs in a David Lynch movie not a national fast food ad campaign. :eek2:

That's what makes it so great. We need more odd-ball commercials.

Anyone remember the subservient chicken (http://www.bk.com/en/us/campaigns/subservient-chicken.html) ?

[TJL]

Are they offended when people use the word "crazy" or "insane" out of context too? :rolleyes:

Unfortunatly, that will be the next thing they'll complain about.

[Retro4Life]

That's what makes it so great. We need more odd-ball commercials.

Anyone remember the subservient chicken (http://www.bk.com/en/us/campaigns/subservient-chicken.html) ?


I'm not saying it's not creative, I'm just saying that nothing about the "Creepy King" commercials makes me want to eat at a Burger King, which is, presumably, the purpose of the entire campaign. :confused:

[catlover79]

I'm not saying it's not creative, I'm just saying that nothing about the "Creepy King" commercials makes me want to eat at a Burger King, which is, presumably, the purpose of the entire campaign. :confused:
Exactly - when the mascot freaks out the majority of the general population, that's not a good sign. :eek: :eek: :eek:

[dlemond]

Are they offended when people use the word "crazy" or "insane" out of context too? :rolleyes:

That's just nuts.

Oops.

[catlover79]

Unfortunatly, that will be the next thing they'll complain about.
The networks wouldn't be able to get away today with the wacky therapy patients on The Bob Newhart Show, or the episode of The Jeffersons where George was trapped in a mental ward, like they did in the 70s. "Hey, wanna buy a PEN???" :rofl: I've said it before and I'll say it again - political correctness sucks!!!! :mad: :mad: :mad:

[dlemond]

Everybody is so touchy these days- or more like putting on a good act of being offended.

When I was growing up I had this game below (it was fun too).

It wasn't considered offensive. In fact, every self-respecting mental ward had at least one copy.




http://images.boardgamegeek.com/images/pic18930_md.jpg

[catlover79]

They also had a candy called Bonkers. I remember it came in flavors like chocolate, strawberry, etc. Anyone else remember it? I loved it!!

[cyberalias81]

Hey buddy, my uncle was a legume! ;)

[Dr. Thong]

There was also a comedy/variety show called Bonkers in the late '70s as well. It starred the Hudson Brothers. Only lasted one season, but I do remember watching it.

And getting back to BK, if these commercials turn anyone off from eating at Burger King, then they're doing you a favor.

[Myles]

How can anyone even argue about that with a straight face? Seriously, there is nothing offensive about the words insane and crazy.

[Retro4Life]

One can only imagine what the PC crowd would have made out of this 1980's Troma gem...

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/fat_guy_goes_nutzoid/

:eek:

[Dr. Thong]

How can anyone even argue about that with a straight face? Seriously, there is nothing offensive about the words insane and crazy.

That's crazy talk. You're nuts!

[catlover79]

I finally found the Bonkers candy I was talking about! Anyone else like it? It was one of my favorite candies when I was a kid growing up in the dark ages of the 80s. :lol: Someone should bring it back!!!

[James]

Here's an interesting perspective about all this from Dennis Prager at Townhall:

http://townhall.com/columnists/DennisPrager/2010/04/13/the_left_squashes_lifes_little_pleasures