Business

Why Did Burger King Pull Its Ad of Mary J. Blige Singing About ‘Crispy’ Chicken?

Why Did Burger King Pull its Ad of Mary J. Blige Singing About Chicken?

Burger King customers looking to get their chicken snack wrap fix will have to do so without inspiration from singer Mary J. Blige.

The fast-food chain has pulled a new ad featuring the R&B songstress singing soulfully about crispy chicken — not, it claims, because of criticism of the spot, but because of a licensing issue.

“The Mary J. Blige advertisement was pulled off of the Burger King YouTube channel due to a music-licensing issue, which Burger King is in the process of resolving,” a company statement said, according to Ad Age. Details about the licensing issue were not disclosed.

A Burger King spokeswoman told the Associated Press the company hopes to have the Blige “ads back on the air soon,” though would not comment on whether they commercials would be the same.

The original ad featured Blige, dressed in leather and wearing sunglasses, singing about “crispy chicken, fresh lettuce, three cheeses, ranch dressing, wrapped up in a tasty flour tortilla.”

First posted online Monday, the spot prompted immediate backlash and criticism for being stereotypical.

Madame Noire, an online publication geared toward black women, called the ad “buffoonery” and said it was “beneath” Blige.

“Having a black woman sing about chicken was no mistake. They’re trying to reach the ‘urban’ (aka black) demographic and they used you,” an open letter on the site states. “Because God knows black folk won’t buy anything unless there’s a song, and preferably a dance, attached to it.”

An article in Clutch Magazine, described as an online magazine for black women, similarly stated, “The stereotype about black folks loving chicken is hundreds of years old, yet it seems more rampant in fast food advertising of the past few years than ever before.”

“We clearly have larger issues to worry about than the proliferation of old myths, but when a legitimate commercial seems to mirror itself after a spoof of its own subgenre, there’s a problem,” the article said.

Defending the ad, Burger King said Blige is part of “a diverse cast of A-list celebrities representing the many faces of the American melting pot…helping to promote our new menu items, including Garden Fresh Salads, Snack Wraps, Crispy Chicken Strips, Real Fruit Smoothies and Frappes.”

What do you think of the ad? Watch below and let us know in the comments.

Comments (128)

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  • spirited
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:47pm

    Micheal Jackson’s Pepsi commercial
    inspired the attempt to burn down St. Sebina Church on the south side of Chicago.

    Hope Mary writes a song that tells of the insults from Madame and NoirenClutch Magazine to all black females —> for their own promotion.

    >Mary, you have a platform. Educate to help end the 21st Century Plantation West spoke of.

    Report Post » spirited  
    • FreedomPurveyor
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:25pm

      Black people love fried chicken. That is not a stereotype, it is a statistical fact.

      Report Post » FreedomPurveyor  
    • SacredHonor1776
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:31pm

      Most people love fried chicken, regardless of skin color.

      Report Post »  
    • Uranium Wedge
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:55pm

      Did you say crispy skin color?
      Mmmm… Crispy skin color.

      Report Post » Uranium Wedge  
    • thetreyman
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:19pm

      i havent read the article yet but i am going to answer the headline question anyway.

      because no one remembers who she is.

      Report Post » thetreyman  
    • thetreyman
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:34pm

      now that i have read the story i have questions. why would one think that blacks wont by anything without a song and dance? what do the people who criticized the ad have against chicken? i thought everybody likes chicken. lastly, is mary j. still relevant to pop culture?

      Report Post » thetreyman  
    • motorcycleboy
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 11:46pm

      I like chicken AND Mary J. Blige. I have a couple of her albums.

      I don’t see this as demeaning to her in any way — if she has more exposure she’ll sell more albums, which is a good thing.

      Report Post » motorcycleboy  
    • lordjosh
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:12am

      @ Freedompurveyer

      Most stereotypes are statistical facts.

      and…

      I love fried chicken.

      Report Post » lordjosh  
    • ishka4me
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 8:52am

      silly, always heard that blacks like chicken, corn bread and water melon. I love them also and think most people do. To associate Blacks with a product that whites and now we find out chinese love fried chicken also is just silly. nWe once heard there were no blacks on tv in shows or commercials. Now we have them on t v and commercials but they can only advertise certain products?

      Report Post »  
    • satotbs
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 9:09am

      Has any one of these buffoons complaining seen the black woman touting her “Popeye’s” Cajun fried chicken? Have they called her out? Has any one else noticed that even though blacks comprise less than 13 % of our “legal” population every other person on TV shows or ads is black and presented as being superior to whites. We saw and are still seeing this with the women’s movement demeaning men, children superior to male parents. Wake up people, they said it wasn’t right when it was happening to them, so why is it right now? Payback? Be careful what you wish for. Look at the news crime stories; look back to Watts and Liberty City etc. What you sew so shall you reap. Anyone figured out why homeland security purchased all that ammo in an election year? May God bless our nation and bring reason to light and peace to the 99% who truly want it. Oh, and for those of you who don’t believe in God, its okay He believes in you.

      Report Post » satotbs  
    • 3monkeysmomma
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 3:15pm

      God Bless Capitalism.
      Tell whatzername to kiss your butt, Mary!

      Report Post » 3monkeysmomma  
    • USANUMBERONE
      Posted on April 6, 2012 at 11:34am

      I love to eat grease fried chicken, and I am not african. I am hispanic, latino, tex mex, latin, and whatever.

      Report Post »  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:46pm

    Of course Burger King is racist. The “Burger King” was a white guy.

    Report Post »  
    • spirited
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 5:02pm

      “was”

      ;^> hahaha

      Report Post » spirited  
    • Exrepublisheep
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 5:04pm

      And the crown symbolized his ownership of the minorities. (Sarc)

      Report Post » Exrepublisheep  
    • TH30PH1LUS
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 5:14pm

      The message? Mary J. Blige (and other black artists) better check in with Madame Noire, Al Sharpton, and Jesse Jackson and get approval from your appointed “leaders” before signing any contracts or filming anything.

      Why? Because everything you say and everything you do must be filtered through their political “race” lense to see how your life reflects upon The Collective.

      Mrs. Blige, you can’t think for yourself, silly woman!

      p.s. fried chicken is nom nom

      Report Post » TH30PH1LUS  
    • jespasinthru
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 11:16pm

      That Burger King was creepy. I’m glad they got rid of him.

      Report Post » jespasinthru  
    • USANUMBERONE
      Posted on April 6, 2012 at 11:38am

      I am going to eat at burger king more often, love fried chicken.

      Report Post »  
  • shamp32750
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:42pm

    Why are the black getting their panties in a wad? This woman Mary J Blige is black, she okayed the clothing, okayed the music, okayed the material, okayed everything and took BK’s money for doing it. Why is it racist? Why don’t the blacks look at themselves and what they do to sell themselves out to “the white man”, because if I remember from history it was their own race who sold them into slavery. Why don’t they look at their so called leaders and see how they get rich off their backs and how these leaders exploit the issues that face the black community, such as poverty, family deaths, drugs alcoholism, welfare, unwed mothers, deadbeat fathers and so on. All of these leaders, such as Obamas, Rev. Wright, Sharpen, Jesse & Shelia Jacksons and all the other race baiter just wait for situtions, antagonize their people and create havoc. So they can get their name in the paper and get whoever to follow them. Meanwhile they take money from the devil himself and they walk all over the ones they supposedly are protecting. Just like all the politicains, when are we going to wake up and see what these snakes are and what they are doing to our country?

    Report Post »  
    • infortheride
      Posted on April 5, 2012 at 6:36pm

      She just didn’t clear it with the proper people, whoever that is.

      Report Post »  
  • bigmel754
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:40pm

    Would it be racist for a white person, to order all white meat or dark meat?

    Report Post »  
    • sick6james
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:21pm

      Only if it came from black chickens…

      Report Post » sick6james  
    • rawmilker
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:31pm

      We had guys in my unit from LeJeune that would go to Kingston NC on the weekend and get the woman of their choice for a Chico’s Chicken fried chicken dinner & a grape soda. They made no attempt to hide that fact that they just loved em some barnyard pimp!

      Report Post » rawmilker  
  • AllAmericanGirl22
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:38pm

    I don’t get it… How is chicken racist? I must be missing something…

    Report Post » AllAmericanGirl22  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:38pm

    .
    She has the worst weave………..

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • teddrunk
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:32pm

    Enough already of the “Fried Chicken is a Black Thing”. Next thing you know they’ll be saying drinking a 40 oz bottle of Schlitz Malt Liquor out of a paper bag or driving a 1972 Coupe De Ville with a thick padded vinyl top, landau bars, and a fake Rolls Royce grill & lights front end is a “black thing”.

    Report Post »  
  • spirited
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:31pm

    Next, we’ll hear that poor Mary J. Blige did the Burger King chicken-gig because she was lured by racist white folk’s dirty money. And that what she really did –unknowingly- was express self hate that was caused by living in a country that requires fundamental change for social justice.

    >This is evidenced by her unfair failure, obesity and poverty . rotfl a lot.

    Report Post » spirited  
  • TheFormerlyInvisibleMan
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:27pm

    Um . . . the guy ordering the chicken in the commercial is white. I don’t get it.

    http://www.CafePress.com/InGodWeTrusted

    Report Post » TheFormerlyInvisibleMan  
  • GMAN455
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:26pm

    Looks like she just crawled out of the Sleestak temple. of land of the lost

    Report Post » GMAN455  
  • Fishmanone
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:23pm

    Well for 56 years i thought i was white!!!!! But i guess im a black man cuz i LOVE fried chicken too!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • DaveOregon
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 9:41pm

      Me too! And I like fried okra and turnip greens lighlyt sautee’d in vinager with bacon bits. Damn – I’m Black!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • hatchetjob
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 10:31pm

      Hey, it’s watermelon for me man.

      Report Post » hatchetjob  
  • 120pages
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:18pm

    Imagine this press release…

    “Burger King refuses to hire Mary J. Blige because she’s black.”

    You think Madame Noire and Clutch Magazine would accept that?

    Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:13pm

    .
    Just another “Pimp” my chicken commerical………

    What’s next? A Chicken App to teach the kids how to walk?………….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
  • Tifn8r
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:11pm

    How come nobody said anything about the black lady with the hokey n‘olinz accent peddling Popeye’s Chicken and Biscuits?

    Oh, I know, – because people pay attention when it’s a pop-culture goofball like Blige (who can’t sing by the way) rather than just an everyday woman getting paid to sell chicken.

    Maybe nobody noticed the Popeye’s lady is black?

    Maybe somebody just needed 15 minutes of fame…. Look out – Sharpton will be jumping on the bandwagon any minute now.

    Report Post » Tifn8r  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:17pm

      .
      I Love me some Popeye’s Two Piece Tuesday………

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • 120pages
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:21pm

      Sorry, spank…I always go for the eight piece legs and thighs for $4.99…spicy!!!

      Report Post »  
  • sawbuck
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:09pm

    Errr….. We deserve a break today…
    Almost every household in America eats chicken ,at least once a week .
    It’s not a “Black” thing.. It’s a good thing.Its almost as American as apple pie.
    Nobody has to Aim the “Chicken Market”at anyone. I’ll be eating chicken tonight..
    Lets make every thing about race ,sexual orientation & religion.
    The U.S.A ..Home of the.. thin-skin-American

    Report Post » sawbuck  
  • SquidVetOhio
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:08pm

    I love fried chicken and Mary J Blige! Way to go Burger King!

    - hungry white guy

    Report Post » SquidVetOhio  
    • sick6james
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:17pm

      I love fried chicken, just not from a damn fast food restaurant and certainly not BK. My grandma makes the best around and it‘s a good thing I know the recipe or I’d be one of the fools standing in line for over salted, over cooked cardboard that KFC and Church’s call chicken. Popeye‘s isn’t too bad, but it still doesn’t touch homemade.

      Report Post » sick6james  
    • USANUMBERONE
      Posted on April 6, 2012 at 11:41am

      hungry brown guy, loves fried chicken

      Report Post »  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:01pm

    this white gal loves fried chicken! I don’t like having to run an extra 3 or 4 miles to burn off the calories but I love ezelles spicy fried chicken. chicken isn’t racist so find something else to whine about.

    Report Post »  
  • Marnin
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:57pm

    So if a black woman sings about chicken it is racist…If we never use a black woman but always use white people to sing about chicken, wouldn’t that be racist as well? They want it both ways so they can throw the race card on anything that they disagree with for any reason.

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:22pm

      Yes .. you can’t win for losing .. d*mned if you do and d*mned if you don’t … Col Sanders must have been a racist .. because he cooked so many of them chickens.

      Report Post »  
    • sick6james
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 6:20pm

      Why not have a duet of Mary J and Taylor Swift singing their love of fried chicken then? Wouldn’t that make the pc police happy?

      Report Post » sick6james  
  • TomFerrari
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:57pm

    PC police at work? I guess they want ONLY WHITE MEN to advertise chicken. If KFC had such a policy, what would their reaction be?

    Me, I‘m guessing it’s because they sang the ingredients, and Mickey D’s was unhappy that it smacked of, “two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun.”

    Report Post » TomFerrari  
  • poster
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:53pm

    wow. Things must be tough for ol’ Mary J, huh? One day, you’re at the top of the charts. The next day, you’re singing chicken jingles for Burger King. Sorry tho see that, Mary J. But hey, at least you‘re workin’. Times are hard in this Obama economy. At least you‘re workin’.

    Report Post »  
  • mbean
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:51pm

    The Victim Culture.

    Report Post » mbean  
  • SLARTIBARTFAST
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:48pm

    It’s not even a good commercial!

    Report Post » SLARTIBARTFAST  
  • SREGN
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:48pm

    I’ll have four fried chickens and a coke.

    Report Post »  
  • IndyGuy
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:46pm

    Hey morons…Not everything is racist…

    Report Post » IndyGuy  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on April 4, 2012 at 3:46pm

    It’s fried chicken, it’s good. Get over it Madame Noire. If fried chicken demeans you, then quit eating it.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
    • Smokey_Bojangles
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 4:05pm

      I Would not exactly call the processed crud “Fried Chicken.” Trust me.I eat Fried Chicken often.That sir,is no fried chicken.I Have not watched TV in quite a while.Does Burger King use any white people in Commercials yet?

      Report Post » Smokey_Bojangles  
    • edmundburk
      Posted on April 4, 2012 at 7:55pm

      @SMOKEYBOJANGLES- you mean mcdonalds LOL!

      Report Post » edmundburk  
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