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'Whopper virgins' make inauspicious debut
Crispin Porter + Bogusky's much-anticipated "documentary" about the "Whopper virgins" debuted last night. It was pretty much as expected. Stacy Peralta has really made two commercials—let's face it, they're just commercials. One is the taste test. This has the native people brought to a semi-civilized location—i.e., somewhere within 15 minutes of fast-food restaurants—for your run-of-the-mill taste test. The video flashes up some select results. I say select because I hope the sample size was larger than about 20. (Surprisingly, the Whopper won in a landside.) Part two is what probably gets at the root of the criticism leveled at Burger King for the project. Peralta and crew trek out to these far-flung locales with a BK grill to cook for the locals. In my initial appraisal of the concept, I found it icky. I still find it depressing. This is a documentary about the making of a commercial that uses "exotic" foreigners as props to sell more trans-fat-laden heart-attack pucks. Judging from what I've read on blogs, Facebook and Twitter, the reaction is pretty mixed—probably exactly what Crispin and BK wanted. See Adweek critic Barbara Lippert's review here. —Posted by Brian Morrissey |
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December 8, 2008 in Burger King, Crispin Porter, Morrissey | Permalink |
Comments
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Personally, I thought BK couldn't sink lower than the creepy King commercials. I was wrong. I find the Whopper Virgins concept to be ignorant and distasteful. First, the idea is based on a faulty presumption, that someone who has never had a burger is the best judge of quality. That makes no sense. Second, to rely on people from countries that are facing hunger or even starvation shows little regard for humanity. Burger King has once again shown that they are putting buzz above good taste. Their downward spiral continues.
Posted by: KansasBard | Dec 8, 2008 12:03:01 PM
kansas, would that downward spiral you are alluding to be the 25 quarters of consecutive growth? or something else?
Posted by: tim | Dec 8, 2008 12:59:41 PM
It's a great idea. Period.
This is an ad campaign, not a Unicef campaign.
Posted by: dutycalls | Dec 8, 2008 1:33:04 PM
Just another turd in the TV punchbowl. Hard to find fault when the standards are so incredibly low...
Posted by: David Zeitman | Dec 8, 2008 1:48:04 PM
Spots are just another turd in the TV cesspool. Hard to find fault when the standards are so incredibly low...
Posted by: David Zeitman | Dec 8, 2008 1:51:05 PM
interesting concept but I can see how it comes off as slightly offensive. the bigger challenge for BK is making their burgers not induce nausea.
Posted by: ashley | Dec 8, 2008 2:27:31 PM
morrissey is right again.
i love it when people get on their high horse about nothing. Burger King asked some Asian folks what they thought about the whopper. what could possibly be wrong with that? Oh, you were made slightly uncomfortable by the sight of how the vast majority of the world lives: in dire poverty. and giving them burgers is cruel. no it's not. i bet eating the whopper was the highlight of their month.
would it make you feel better if they were healthy grinning Fins who sound funny? maybe they could be eating them in a sauna or something. now that would be boring.
the ads work. CPB steals the media focus for BK. yet again. non clients go "i want that!". win.
Posted by: A. Prinze | Dec 9, 2008 1:03:44 AM
Can´t believe it, I´ve just saw it and I find it repulsive. Contaminating the few people left in the world with these american s***. I guess the entire "civilized" world in which they sell this unhealthy food isn´t enough and they need to do this!
The most incredible is that they actually feel proud about it!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Mela | Dec 9, 2008 10:34:12 AM
stacy peralta is such a weenie.
Posted by: slacker | Dec 9, 2008 10:44:33 AM
hey mela, presumably you live in madagascar. i really hope you don't live in europe.
in case you missed it, this was an advertisement. that it exposed the realities of the developing world is neither cpb's or burger king's fault. have you ever thought that remote Asian villagers might appreciate a delicious whopper? no you haven't. because your mind is closed. trust me, the remote villagers loved the whopper. an effort is being made to ship some killer milkshakes to them next month.
chill out girl!
Posted by: A. Prinze | Dec 10, 2008 12:32:48 AM
Mr. Morrisey:
What's with all the ruffled feathers???? Please, spare us your rightous, indignant PC crap!
Yes, we Americans are an ignorant lot. Our school kids on average couldn't point out Libera or Latvia, or even England on a world map.
But please keep in mind that this commercial is done in jest, it's supposed to be humorous. This isn't meant to be a Sundance Festival documentary on the plight of native peoples; it's just a dumb, silly commercial meant to sell hamburgers.
Mellow out man, jeeeeezz!!!! Go toke some weed or get laid or something. Please!!!
Posted by: The Boy Lalo | Dec 10, 2008 12:07:52 PM
successful?
well, if you define success as filling up your bank account by "de-virginizing" the few people out there that have avoided the "super-size-me", chronic disease creating diet that we've perfected, and then implying that their impoverished culture is somehow, "missing-out"... then yeah, go opt for the performance package on your new Benz and call yourself a "success".
or, we could re-define it as campaigns that bring smart and innovative products to market through awareness, knowledge and inspiration.
to cp+b... remember "you are what you sell".
Posted by: JT | Dec 10, 2008 12:17:24 PM
The Boy Lalo,
You sound a bit stressed. Go punch the clown or something...
Posted by: TunaTacoGrande | Dec 10, 2008 1:28:15 PM
I was intrigued/bored by the whole white love/hate export of culture/schlock. I thought may incite desire/ire from it's intended American audience.
I really love (kiss ass/suck up) work of CPB. I wish they would hire (beg/grovel) another black guy like me. I could come in and act all militant/angry at the white folk and scare them into feeling guilty/magnanimous for saving the ad lorn ghetto child.
Posted by: KissMyBlackAds | Dec 10, 2008 5:44:18 PM
I was intrigued/bored by the whole white love/hate export of culture/schlock. I thought may incite desire/ire from it's intended American audience.
I really love (kiss ass/suck up) work of CPB. I wish they would hire (beg/grovel) another black guy like me. I could come in and act all militant/angry at the white folk and scare them into feeling guilty/magnanimous for saving the ad lorn ghetto child.
Posted by: KissMyBlackAds | Dec 10, 2008 5:45:17 PM
I have mixed feelings towards BK's new ad campaign.
I grew up traveling around many of the regions that they depict in their commercials, and honestly, I think it is sad and disgusting that they have to show their company 'corrupting' other cultures -- globalization is looked upon in many different ways, but when it comes to fast food places like mcdonalds or BK, globalization is seen in the negative light.
But, ultimately, controversy is a good thing for their ad campaign and I might be more inclined to go to BK in the next week than McDonalds.
Posted by: Brian Linton | Dec 12, 2008 2:05:57 PM
It's an ad campaign and they did a great job doing what they get paid for.
As many of us know, advertisers have to get us to want to look them up now because of DVR's and TIVO.
I love a good burger and Burger King is yummy.
And it seemed the ad was somewhat honest. I mean, the last guy said he preferred seal meat.
All of this being said, I still find this ad campaign problematic.
My unease is caused by the fact that these burger ad visits were most likely the only contact many of these people have had with Americans.
I find it depressing that these "Whopper Virgins" are eventually going to identify Americans with an ad campaign and exploitation.
Sure, at first they're probably thinking, "These nice people came here to cook us food out of the goodness of their hearts."
How are they going to feel when they find out "those nice people" just wanted to profit from them?
I feel sorry for that man who gave up a month of his life making a coat only to give it to an employee of the Burger King Corporation who was only there to make money off of him.
Posted by: Just me | Dec 22, 2008 3:40:24 PM
