Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:07 PM Apr 2013

Is this ad racist/sexist?

Racist Mountain Dew Commercial? Music Group 'Odd Future' Featured In Troubling Soda Ad

&feature=youtu.be

From time to time, we turn to you, our community, for input on topics of the day that leave us troubled. From pillow butted imitations of Serena to crass tweets on election night, you've helped us dissect some real head-scratchers in the past. We thank you and are so glad you're here to help us with this one.

Recently, Mountain Dew released a new commercial featuring the members of musical group, Odd Future and a goat... named Felicia. It has all the makings of a bad racist joke:

"Five black guys and a goat stand in a line up..." Cud chewing and jive talking, the goat threatens bodily harm to a blonde haired, blue eyed, badly beaten white woman while the other men (all of whom are black men, by the way) stand passively, waiting to be ID'd. If the visuals don't jar you, then the goat's voice probably will.


*snip*

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/30/racist-mountain-dew-commercial-odd-future_n_3186324.html?ref=topbar


comments section of the vid is interesting.


edited to add at the request of 'graham4anything': I do think this ad is racist and I have no angle in posting this. Thought it was a disgusting ad figured it was worth posting. As an aside, I hate Mountain Dew. I hope this will suffice as an explanation as to my 'angle'.

also wanted to include that I think the violence against women vibe is pretty fucked up too.

edited to include the link to pepsi: https://cu.pepsico.com/mtndew (thanks CurtEastPoint)

also edited the subject line to include sexist.
23 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Is this ad racist/sexist? (Original Post) one_voice Apr 2013 OP
It's racist and sexist to the max Warpy Apr 2013 #1
Please tell us what is your opinion being that you posted it. What angle? graham4anything Apr 2013 #2
the OP has been updated. n/t one_voice Apr 2013 #7
yes, and otherwise very obnoxious n/t Enrique Apr 2013 #3
I don't know about racist, but... LAGC Apr 2013 #4
+1 Buzz Clik Apr 2013 #16
Yes olddots Apr 2013 #5
Why the fuck would anyone make that subject their commercial? Rex Apr 2013 #6
Wow ismnotwasm Apr 2013 #8
That commercial is as American as cherry pie nt MrScorpio Apr 2013 #9
Racist and sexist. Gravitycollapse Apr 2013 #10
Let Pepsi know what you think here... CurtEastPoint Apr 2013 #11
EVERYTHING wrong is here. Raine1967 Apr 2013 #12
Blatantly, yes. n/t Butterbean Apr 2013 #13
holy shit. what geniuses thought this was a good idea? Mind bogglingly racist, sexist cali Apr 2013 #14
Racist? The word is overused and used at inappropriate times; not racist. Buzz Clik Apr 2013 #15
If you have ever seen loiter squad... actslikeacarrot Apr 2013 #17
Not sure about racist or sexist, but the "ick" factor is off the scale quinnox Apr 2013 #18
The band directed the commercial, and it is the 2nd part of another The Straight Story Apr 2013 #19
Violence against... one_voice Apr 2013 #21
Not racist or sexist (after also seeing the first part) Captain Stern Apr 2013 #20
PepsiCo pulled the ad MadrasT May 2013 #22
Pepsi got the message, because they are already scrubbing it from sites... Blue_Tires May 2013 #23

Warpy

(110,912 posts)
1. It's racist and sexist to the max
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:10 PM
Apr 2013

but it does play up how the cops sometimes feed witnesses in order to get someone they don't like identified as a perp.

It's an ugly commercial for a nasty product.

LAGC

(5,330 posts)
4. I don't know about racist, but...
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:12 PM
Apr 2013

...kind of disrespectful to victims of violence.

"Poor taste" is putting it mildly...

 

Rex

(65,616 posts)
6. Why the fuck would anyone make that subject their commercial?
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:12 PM
Apr 2013

I dunno about racist, but the commercial is very offensive and about as low as you can go in many many ways imo. It doesn't even seem like they are selling anything, just torturing a woman that has endured domestic violence.

I fail to see how that is funny...the people at MD have all lost their marbles if that is the type of commercial they are producing imo.

Raine1967

(11,589 posts)
12. EVERYTHING wrong is here.
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:16 PM
Apr 2013

As to your edit one_voice, I never thought about why you posted it and didn't think you need to explain.

 

cali

(114,904 posts)
14. holy shit. what geniuses thought this was a good idea? Mind bogglingly racist, sexist
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:19 PM
Apr 2013

and generally offensive.

nasty stereotyping of goats too.

 

Buzz Clik

(38,437 posts)
15. Racist? The word is overused and used at inappropriate times; not racist.
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:20 PM
Apr 2013

But, hells bells, it was friggin' repulsive.

Sexist maybe. Probably.

Basically just horrible.

The Straight Story

(48,121 posts)
19. The band directed the commercial, and it is the 2nd part of another
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:35 PM
Apr 2013

The third commercial directed by Wolf Haley (Tyler, The Creator) for Mountain Dew just released. Will Felicia get caught by the waitress he attacked in the first commercial? Watch the video above and find out.

http://oddfuturetalk.com/2013/04/mt-dew-3-starring-felicia-the-goat/

Here is the first part of the commercial:

http://oddfuturetalk.com/2013/03/mt-dew-starring-felicia-the-goat-and-errol-chatham/

one_voice

(20,043 posts)
21. Violence against...
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:49 PM
Apr 2013

women is not fodder for comedy. Far too many women die because of violence, whether domestic or stranger. Having a goat adding insult to injury only makes it worse. It's not funny.

Having a black man at the helm doesn't make it less offensive. It's loaded with stereotypes. The ad execs should have known better, imo.

Captain Stern

(2,197 posts)
20. Not racist or sexist (after also seeing the first part)
Tue Apr 30, 2013, 05:49 PM
Apr 2013

But it's a terrible commercial, in my opinion.

It's not clever or endearing, and I doubt it's going to sell a single drop of Mountain Dew.

I guess they're hoping "you're never gonna catch meee" is going to be a phrase that catches on. Fail.

MadrasT

(7,237 posts)
22. PepsiCo pulled the ad
Wed May 1, 2013, 03:18 PM
May 2013
Mountain Dew Pulls 'Most Racist Commercial in History'

PepsiCo says it's pulling an outrageous Mountain Dew commercial that has offended online viewers in recent days due to sensitivities in terms of racism and violence toward women. The 60-second spot, which is still live on a few individuals' YouTube channels, depicts a badly battered woman on crutches who is being pressed by a cop to pick a suspect out of a police lineup of five African-American males and a goat named Felicia.

(snip)

One social commentator, Dr. Boyce Watkins, called it "arguably the most racist commercial in history." After being asked about the spots yesterday, a PepsiCo spokesperson emailed Adweek this morning to state that the video is getting taken down.

"We understand how this video could be perceived by some as offensive, and we apologize to those who were offended," the rep said. "We have removed the video from all Mountain Dew channels and have been informed that Tyler is removing it from his channels as well."


Yet another typical non-apology "apology" but at least they pulled the ad.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Is this ad racist/sexist?