Dunkin' Donuts Ad Campaign: Racist or not?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 11:14am

A Dunkin' Donuts ad in Thailand that featured a woman in blackface is causing international controversy. The marketing campaign, which was for chocolate donuts, shows a Thai woman with black hair, blackface makeup, and bright pink lipstick. She is also holding a black donut. After the ad campaign began, Human Rights Watch Asia Direct Phil Robertson stated, "It's both bizarre and racist that Dunkin' Donuts thinks that it must color a woman's skin black and accentuate her lips with bright pink lipstick to sell a chocolate doughnut."

However, the CEO of Dunkin' Donuts Thailand doesn't find fault with the ad. "We're not allowed to use black paint to promote our donuts? What if the product was white and I painted someone white, would that be racist? Not everyone is paranoid about racism," explained Thailand CEO Nadim Salhani. Her own teenage daughter is the model in the controversial photo.


~ i personally don't think it's racial at all.

~ i agree with the ceo's pov

THE CHARCOAL DONUT Updated On: 9/4/13 at 11:14 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 11:38am

That's not "blackface" and it's pretty embarrassing that thos screaming racism are displaying such ignorance. They painted the entirety of the woman to be the same color of the donut and her lips are the color of their logo. It's not like there is an attempt to portray her as a "black woman", either realistically or with stereotypes.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 11:39am

I'm sorry, but what is in a charcoal donut?

It sounds disgusting.



I'm with Matt. I don't think it's black face at all. It's rather eye catching.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 11:57am

A charcoal donut is a chocolate donut dusted in edible charcoal.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:02pm

Yup.

Sounds disgusting.


Please cover mine with maple and bacon, please!

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:02pm

Love Thai people! I think the ad is rather exotic. Visiting Thailand many times and getting to know the people I know this ad is not at all racist in anyway, shape or form. It's just not the Thai way. Heck in their constitution they even protect their 3rd gender "Katoy" aka "Lady Boys"

[Jane2]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:04pm

I would like to know what's considered racist about that ad. People have gotten beyond ridiculous.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:05pm

sigh...

get over it.
EVERYTHING is not racist!

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:12pm

~ i know. i agree.

~ i didn't see one thing racist about this ad. . .and i am a man of color.

~ i'm into graphics so i just loved the design, etc.

~ i thought it was cool.

~ dunkin' donuts had no reason to apologize.

~ everybody's just to damned sensitive these days.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:16pm

I also think that looking at an ad aimed at another culture for racism based on American values is ridiculous.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:19pm

I also don't think it is racist. I just want to know what the writing on the ad says.

[Broadwayboobs]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:21pm

AMEN Robbie!

Marianne, I'll see if I can have a Thai friend translate for us.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 12:24pm

That's not blackface anyway.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 1:06pm

I don't think it's racist either. It's not like she was eating chicken and waffles :-O

[suestorm]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 7:46pm

I don't think it's racist at all I don't think that's thaland had a lot of black slaves or minstrel shows so why would that be racist to them. I do agree though this country has become way too sensitive about just about everything

[OperaBwayLover]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 7:57pm

Not racist to me.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 7:59pm

Not racist. At all. AND even if WE felt it was, Thailand's social mores may not see it that way anyway.


Not everying is our damn business.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/4/13 at 8:45pm

Nope.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 9/6/13 at 1:12pm

It's an interesting, even arresting design choice, but not racist.

[suestorm]

Posted: 9/6/13 at 1:17pm

In a related story, OREO COOKIES have been banned at Columbia University for being Racist

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/6/13 at 4:55pm

The PC police are alive & well @ Columbia

I guess the fudge oreo would be OK. Regular oreos should be OK as well as it is black & white living in harmony. Maybe Columbia would be OK if the cookie was white but would they be OK with a fudge interior.

The suits at Columbia should get professional help. I wonder if they caught you eating one on campus what the punishment would be. Perhaps sensitivity training would be in order.

Do they sneak them at home? Hmmmmm

Updated On: 9/6/13 at 04:55 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/6/13 at 5:04pm

Is it really that much more effort to type "at"?

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/6/13 at 5:06pm

Roxy, I don't get what you're talking about. What about Columbia?

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 9/6/13 at 5:06pm

Sorry about that chief. I have corrected the offending punctuation mark

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 9/6/13 at 5:10pm

I'm lost. I gather there may be some posts I'm not seeing. But a Google search isn't enlightening me on Columbia and Oreos.

Can anyone shed some light?