New Burger King Commercial Offends the Mentally Ill - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 04-04-2010, 12:01 PM

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/htm..._mascot03.html

MickeyMac · 04-04-2010, 02:25 PM

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

catlover79 · 04-04-2010, 02:29 PM

ANY commercial with that creepy king mascot offends me!!

Retro4Life · 04-04-2010, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

ANY commercial with that creepy king mascot offends me!!

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

spunkygirl · 04-04-2010, 02:49 PM

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

catlover79 · 04-04-2010, 03:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

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

How about a John Waters flick?

Retro4Life · 04-04-2010, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

How about a John Waters flick?

That might work, too.

catlover79 · 04-04-2010, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Retro4Life

That might work, too.

Or we can forget the new Ghostbusters remake and make it KINGBUSTERS!!!

Hollow · 04-04-2010, 03:41 PM

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.

spunkygirl · 04-04-2010, 05:52 PM

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

Dr. Thong · 04-04-2010, 07:47 PM

Oh, brother!

steevo · 04-05-2010, 09:23 PM

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 · 04-05-2010, 09:37 PM

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.

Liza · 04-05-2010, 10:06 PM

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.

Janice · 04-05-2010, 10:57 PM

Just more political correctness run amuck.

04-04-2010, 12:01 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	New Burger King Commercial Offends the Mentally Ill 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/htm..._mascot03.html Attached Images
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04-04-2010, 02:29 PM	#3
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	ANY commercial with that creepy king mascot offends me!!
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04-04-2010, 07:47 PM	#11
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	Oh, brother!
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04-05-2010, 09:23 PM	#12
steevo It is Green Senior Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2008 Location: Connecticut Posts: 1,476	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)?
	__________________ "God be gracious to us and bless us..." Psalm 67:1

04-05-2010, 09:37 PM	#13
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	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.
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04-04-2010, 02:25 PM	#2
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,008	I've seen that Burger King commercial. I dont find if offensive, just dumb.

04-04-2010, 02:49 PM	#5
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	I didn't find it offensive either, just eye roll worthy

04-04-2010, 03:41 PM	#9
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	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.

04-04-2010, 05:52 PM	#10
spunkygirl Member Moderator Forum Celebrity Join Date: Apr 26, 2003 Posts: 21,563	Are they offended when people use the word "crazy" or "insane" out of context too?

04-05-2010, 10:06 PM	#14
Liza BestYearsofOurLives Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 24, 2001 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 6,537	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.

04-05-2010, 10:57 PM	#15
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Just more political correctness run amuck.