Shortly after Burger King debuted the new commercial for their latest chicken menu item, the popular fast food chain got a heap of negative criticism from the African-American community. The ad surprisingly featured the Queen of Hip Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige singing and dancing about chicken to the an infused hip-hop beat.
BK pulled the clip, claiming that it was informally released “before all of the licensing and final approvals were obtained.”
Following the far from pleased thoughts on the commercial, Mary J. Blige spoke with TMZ and shared her own disappointment in the clip. In fact, the “Just Fine” singer revealed that the clip wasn’t complete and not what she expected.
“I agreed to be a part of a fun and creative campaign that was supposed to feature a dream sequence. Unfortunately, that’s not what was happening in that clip. [...] I understand my fans being upset by what they saw. But, if you’re a Mary fan, you have to know I would never allow an unfinished spot like the one you saw go out.” [SOURCE]
Since then Burger King has stated that the completed and official version will be released soon on their YouTube channel. They also issued an apology to Mary J. Blige, her fans and anyone offended by the ad: “We would like to apologize to Mary J. and all of her fans for airing an ad that was not final.”
Yeah, ok. Doesn’t change the fact that it’s a black person singing about chicken.
LMAO, blk ppl… white ppl… spanish ppl….. WE all eat chicken. Stop looking for something to complain about. That is some basic observation. Stop it.
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I loved the ad! It was the funniest commercial ever and made me want burger king. I don’t get all this racist stuff, black people love chicken! what’s wrong if we sing about it. people put too much thought into the wrong stuff. Get over it!
Yeah I wish they would just release the version that was already played on youtube. There was nothing wrong with it. Peolple just love to take something small and blow it up to something big.
Had Mary been holding up a liquior bottle no one would have said a word. Its a song about a chicken wrap sandwich. What about blacks who have been in KFC commercials or the Popeyes woman and that horrible song. Anyone with an ounce of sense is not about this at all. Go head Mary, love you girl
The same people that get on those topics are the same ones that got on this one. If anything those sort of commercials are the thing that’s making people overly sensitive.
I wasn’t offended by what I saw and I don’t think they were lying after pulling it, it looked very bootleg and incomplete. But I do understand the sensitivity behind it, which the PR firm involved or whoever probably never thought of. It just amazes me that a big fuss was made about this ad, when television is rampant with commercials that perpetuate stereotypes on African Americans…
I was surprised at how upset a lot of people got too. After one blogger gave a breakdown I did have a better understanding of where they were coming from. None of the other commercials came of ghetto nor did they sing about the fried chicken, still wasn’t offended but I’m glad even Mary had an issue with it, I just thought it was really cheezy and Mary’s sassy intro was unneeded.
Im glad they are going to fix it. But that I love that little song she sings, its become a youtube hit lol
It wasn’t as bad as it was made out to be. But the youtube vids that have poped up and sooooo funny. Everybody is having good natured fun with it. The crispy chicken song has been stuck in my head for days
The burger king song has gone viral on youtube. Everybody is singing this song and even remixing it. I think its funny and great. But I am glad Mary is making them clean it up and all but it really wasn’t that bad. I love Mary regardless
WAY TO GO!
Yes Mary created a sensation on youtube. Those videos are classic
it is not so bad, but it is not good either. she even looks funny talking bout crispy chicken, singing so hard. her hair doesn’t look right, the way she appeared up in burger king, it just wasn’t done right.
I don’t see the big deal and Mary, you don’t or didn’t either. You didn’t even think twice or care about the final video ’cause you had already taken your coins and left! I would of done the same thing for two million dollars!
ROTF..@ THAT COMMERCIAL…JESUS :’D
Thank you for writing this article I’m a black women and I dont see want the big deal is about this commercial it wasnt offensive to me. And there are other white stars that have done commercials for BK as well. Besides I thought black people loved chicken as much as the rest of the world. And I dont know about you but when I bite into a juicy crispy piece of chicken I wish I had vocals like Mary so I could SANG about how good it is! We as black people need to loosen up a little and not get so defensive all the time sometimes its not meant to be insulting. Focus on more important blatant issues that are at hand.
i thought is was a paraody
I can care less about the chicken factor. I’m from the South, white, black, yellow, everyone loves chicken. We should be mad that she is sponsoring crappy processed, chemically enhanced food knowing our community is dying from heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
That’s so true, lol.
MARY WHATS IN THE NEW CHICKEN WRAP?????……. DEAD!!!!!!.. HAHAHA
Just watched it again- it’s ridiculous but too funny! And I certainly don’t find it racist!
She got paid and we didn’t lol. So what do we do? Bitch and whine.
Being “paid” is the answer to everything right? That mentality is what keeps whitey paid off of black ignorance..Blacks in the industry are being paid more now,than ever, because the power that be see the bigger picture..the ones being “paid” and not standing for anything,are the ones to self destruct and take as many blacks with them as possible. “The man” no longer has to get their hand dirty. Just give a ninja a few more dollars than his brother, and it’s on..
Now THIS is how Mary should do the new ad:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfyRWZKw6SY&feature=related
Jay Leno pulled up to the drive through in a classic automobile and he wasn’t made to be a clown… David Beckham walked inside BK,NOT KICKING A SOCCER BALL..the women and men were swooning over him,but why Mary had to come stomping in singing about chicken…? They either have us on TV snapping fingers,singing,rapping or with a rude attitude,they deem as “being black” There is a bigger picture and too many of you don’t see it. I’m not upset about the commerical… I just wish black people stood for something besides fighting to be accepted by white people..
OMG!!!. This commercial was funny as hell. Mary you know that commercial should of been done back in the “What’s the 411″ days….lmao! No…this was not for the grown Mary. I’m not knocking her for doing the commercial, but it was wack. Selma Hayek recently did a commercial and it was nothing like this. This was a set up.