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Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Sponge Bob Square Butts Burger King Ad Controversy

If you haven't seen the ad by now, please watch the video.



I have to admit, when I first saw it, I laughed! It IS funny! But this little commercial here has parents and some women's groups up in arms about the objectification of the female form, and also the fact that the whole theme of "Baby Got Back", whether it's square or round, is inappropriate viewing matter for children.
On that tip, I kind of have to agree, depending on the age of the child. Of course, a 4 year old won't make this heavy connection to exploitation, chauvanism, etc, but what about the rest of them? And the best part is at the end where Sir Mix a Lot says "Booty is booty". Well....we adults know what that REALLY means when being uttered by a grown man. Don't need me to explain, do ya? ;) There's another word I could substitute for "booty" that's not quite as nice. Let's just leave it at that.

Anyhow, what do you think? Is Burger King's new Sir Mix a Lot square butts commercial offensive and inappropriate for the demographic it's trying to target, or just good old, harmless fun? Should we just get over it already? I can tell you for sure, I'm not digging it. I'm not hating it so hard, but not liking it either.

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15 comments:

Sadie said...

I didn't realize it was causing controversy. Wow. Really? Seriously? People will find anything to cause a raucous over these days, huh? I mean, when the original song was out, no one was in an uproar over it - so why now that it's a mockery over a SQUARE butt that no one actually has? That's kind of dumb...

The Fitness Diva said...

Well, Sadie...
the song actually did cause a bit of controversy when it came out, but it didn't get that far.
I don't think it's about the square butts...it's about the girls wiggling their butts and having their butts ogled. Okay, even typing about it is making me laugh!
LOL! It's bad, but still funny! :)

tahtimbo said...

Firstly, I think people should get thicker skin. It seems that no matter what someone says or does, there will be some group out there that will be offended by it. With regards to the commercial, I have to admit that I didn't give it much thought until I read your article. But, thinking on it, I can see why they could be offended by it.
That being said, I did not like the commercial at all and I still think the BK King is creepy and apt to give young children, and some adults, nightmares:)

Unknown said...

I'm a woman and a mom. I think the commercial is funny. I can't help it. And I would have no problem letting my kids see the commercial. They happen to like the song to begin with, so they would get a kick out of it being about square butts and Spongebob.

Steven Humour said...

I think this commercial is funny. And I'm a lover of square butts. So it works doubly for me. On a more serious note though. I don't think the average kid is going to understand what's controversial about it until their parents tell them. Kids will just think it's cool and wanna go to BK to get a Sponge Bob toy. People should quite being so serious about stuff like this. It's not that big a deal.

The Fitness Diva said...

Tahtimbo, I think it's hilarious how many people are creeped out by The King! LOL!! I guess it would be scary to suddenly look up and see him in your living room! haaaa!

Mee2, thanks for sharing your thoughts. I would hope that kids do miss any adult references lying within...

The Fitness Diva said...

So, you like square butts, and you can not lie, eh Steven? LOL!
OMG, you are the first! At least, that I know of.... :)

Yeah, we can get a little antsy over the squarest things these days, can't we? ;)

Wilson Pon said...

Diva, at the very first time I looked on the commercial ads, it reminds me of the "Sponge Bob Square Pants", where the all the funny and hilarious scenes keep running through my mind...lol

Paul Eilers said...

It seems that kids are bombarded these days with advertisement that is suggestive.

Besides, what kind of toy do you think might be in that kids meal?

Paul

Eat Well. Live Well.
PurpleGreenPops.com

Anonymous said...

It's just fuckin' stupid... plus they play it 2x a commercial break.

joyce said...

I think its crude in poor taste and has very little to do with food

Its my opinion that Burger King has great fast food so why stoop so low.

Netgk said...

These Burger King commercials have been really weird lately. First they had that one with Mr. Burger King lying down by the fire, chest exposed, with as much of a "come-hither" look as he could express through that creepy plastic face. Clearly not for kids, and definitely not making me hungry. And now scantily-clad women are shaking their butts around. So their butts are square - that's supposed negate the sexy factor? The girls are still shaking their butts in short skirts, and the King is drooling over their butts. Imagine it's not TV. Imagine a salesman knocking on your door and wanting to talk to your kids, and what he wants to tell them is how yummy he finds girls in short skirts shaking their square butts around. Would you let him in?

Anonymous said...

it would have been much more appropriate to have the song be "i like square PANTS", and have the porno-looking women wear oversized SQUARE PANTS instead of the butts thing. small distinction but it does go a long way. the way the commercial is now those girls are wagging their vaginas around from the back and its just obscene.

Bob said...

The Burger King marketing policy is an excellent example of corporate greed. It is clear that they do not care about a child's psychological development. Money is all that matters.

Custom Labels said...

It is exploiting women and maybe not teaching our children the best lessons...but I did laugh I'll admit. I dunno, sometimes I think people will look for anything to get upset about instead of just relaxing and letting things go.

 
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