Burger King's "Square Butts" Ad Uses Exploitation to Promote Kids' Products
Offender: Burger King, "Square Butts" commercial
Media Outlet: Airing on various TV stations, starting in April 2009
The Offense: Burger King (BK) promotes its 99 cents kids meal through a tie-in with Nickelodeon character SpongeBob SquarePants and a take-off of the song "Baby Got Back" In the original song, Sir Mix-a-Lot rapped about liking women's "big butts" -- this time the King (BK's mascot) admires "square butts" on women.
NOW's Analysis: Who in the world decides to combine a song about women's "big butts" with a beloved children's cartoon character? Have the executives at Burger King lost their minds? What about the executives at Nickelodeon who approved the use of SpongeBob SquarePants in this offensive ad?
Just like the original video for "Baby Got Back" (and countless other music videos, we should add), the women in this commercial are sexualized and valued solely for their body parts. The King measures one woman's bottom with a tape measure, and Sir Mix-a-Lot himself appears at the end to declare "booty is booty."
This ad would seem crass if it were aimed only at adults, but it's wildly inappropriate for kids. It proudly sends the message to young girls and boys that women are objects to be leered at by men, and it uses a cartoon character known for his innocent optimism to do so. Shame on BK and Nickelodeon.
Take Action: Tell Burger King what you think of their commercial!
And tell Viacom, the parent company of cable network Nickelodeon, what you think about them selling out SpongeBob for this ad (make sure to click on Compose Message and then select Compose Your Own Letter and click Next Step)|
Rank this item with our Misogyny Meter: |
Spread the word:
|
Observe and Report Movie Thinks Date Rape is Funny?
Offender: "Observe and Report" movie, written and directed by Jody Hill
Media Outlet: Warner Brothers, opened 4/10/09 in movie theatres nationwide
The Offense: The lead character in this "comedy" rapes the object of his obsession after she becomes so intoxicated that she vomits and passes out.
Here's the R-rated trailer (warning!)
NOW's Analysis: Date rape is no laughing matter. But Jody Hill and Warner Brothers apparently think so. Yes, the lead character of Ronnie is supposed to be mentally ill to the point of being deranged and violent. However, his infatuation with Brandi has the potential to make him sympathetic to every guy who has ever lusted after a woman "out of his league."
So, what are moviegoers to think when Ronnie takes advantage of Brandi after she has taken pills and thrown back numerous shots? Any rape counselor, and hopefully any law enforcement officer, would tell you that a real woman in Brandi's condition could not meaningfully consent to sex. But the writer conveniently put words in Brandi's mouth, in the middle of a passed out haze during which Ronnie is raping her, that urge him to continue. Brandi is barely aware of what is happening to her and a trail of vomit is visible on the pillow next to her slack mouth, but she has expressed that she wants sex, so all systems are go for Ronnie and laughter!
It is telling that the actor playing Ronnie, Seth Rogen, has referred to Brandi as being "unconscious" during the scene. Anna Faris, who plays Brandi, has called it "the date-rape scene" and expressed shock that the scene even made it into the movie, saying she thought it surely would be cut by a mainstream studio like Warner Brothers. The scene should have been cut. Heck, it never should have been filmed. It's actually quite simple -- the scene promotes and excuses sexual violence against women, and it degrades and exploits the actress in the role.
Take Action: Share your outrage with Warner Brothers!
|
Rank this item with our Misogyny Meter: |
Spread the word:
|
Eminem / "We Made You" Video Profits from Violence Against Women
Offender: Eminem, "We Made You" video
Media Outlet: Video released 4/7/09 by Shady/Interscope Records, produced by Dr. Dre
The Offense: Eminem's first video in almost five years features parodies of Gov. Sarah Palin, Ellen DeGeneres, Jessica Simpson and other well-known women. The video presents former vice presidential candidate Palin as a highly sexualized caricature. In one scene, Eminem is seen pushing a woman celebrity, head first, into a wood chipper.
NOW's Analysis: Rapper Eminem has never been a feminist favorite, what with the hostility he's expressed toward women (including his wife and mother) in his music. But this video is pretty much anti-woman from beginning to end. It ridicules a number of women for their weight, appearance and hunger for celebrity. The character based on Gov. Sarah Palin is so sexualized that she appears to have dropped in from a pornographic movie. It's almost impossible to imagine a male vice presidential candidate portrayed in such an insulting and exploitative manner. Eminem can't seem to resist violent imagery, so includes a scene with him pushing a character based on reality TV star Kim Karsdashian into a wood chipper. Money spits out of the woodchipper, as if to say that committing violence against women is a profitable gig. When big media conglomerates fund videos like this and eager media outlets air them, unfortunately it is. But it's time for it to end.
Take Action: Write to Universal Music Group (the parent company of Eminem's label) and tell them what you think: communications@umusic.com . If you see the video on any cable network, like MTV, write to them, too!
|
Rank this item with our Misogyny Meter: |
Spread the word:
|
XML Feeds: 
RSS