Theodore's World: Racist Cupcakes? Duncan Hines 'hip-hop' Video Ad Under Fire

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December 11, 2010

Racist Cupcakes? Duncan Hines 'hip-hop' Video Ad Under Fire



Duncan Hines is doing this marketing campaign where they’re giving “artists and directors the chance to create Duncan Hines commercials which will be promoted and sent out online.”

The First ad has been accused of being racist.





Duncan Hines pulled its ad for 'hip-hop' cupcakes after complaints that the video featured cupcakes with black face and exaggerated lips



Racist Cupcakes? Duncan Hines 'hip-hop' Video Ad Under Fire

NY Daily News


Cupcakes aren't tasting so sweet for some Duncan Hines marketing execs who were forced to pull a video for their "Amazing Glazes" frosting line after viewers and bloggers complained the dancing cupcakes were racist.


The commercial, which features chocolate-frosted cupcakes singing a harmony, was released on YouTube with the title "Hip Hop". Along with that title, the cupcakes featured exaggerated lips and eyes and more hummed a melody – that was decidedly un-hip hop.

"If you're going to call them hip-hop cupcakes, then shouldn't at least one of them at least do a verse?" a blogger wrote on the Racialicious blog wrote. In a press release, the company said it wanted to inspire creativity in its new commercial.

"I wanted to create an entertaining and engaging way to show bakers that this glaze makes everything you top taste better and more exciting," the commercial's director Josh Binder said in a statement released by the company when the controversial ads were launched.


The commercials were removed by the company but not before generating more than 19,000 views on YouTube, the Toronto Sun reported.


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Wild Thing's comment.........


Good grief, hahaha ok but it is a clever ad and how else can they make the lips show up without making them the way they did.



Posted by Wild Thing at December 11, 2010 04:50 AM


Comments

This brings back memories of 'Amos and Andy' played on radio by two white guys. But PC is what it is, and somebody, some where can take offense at it and it will be censored.

Posted by: Mark at December 11, 2010 08:29 AM


Is this what this nations degenerated to, a bunch of oversensitive babies who can't see the humor is a stupid commercial?

Posted by: BobF at December 11, 2010 10:17 AM


Yeah, they should have done a bit more market research before releasing this one. Kind of Al Jolson-ish. Very funny stuff.

Posted by: Jim at December 11, 2010 04:58 PM


Mark, I remember them, yes and it surprised me when I learned they were both white men. Then years later I met the wife of one of them and she was an artist and she sketched a drawing of one of my Saint Bernards and a kitty that I had. I still have the drawing.

Posted by: Wild Thing at December 11, 2010 05:45 PM


Bob, it sure seems so. It is like everything is based on PC to pass the test or not.

Posted by: Wild Thing at December 11, 2010 05:47 PM


Jim, haha it does remind me of Al Jolson, your right.

Posted by: Wild Thing at December 11, 2010 06:01 PM