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An Upper West Side Whole Foods has removed a sign that used a drawing of President Barack Obama to advertise a sale on chicken after complaints that the ad was offensive.
The sign outside the supermarket on Columbus Avenue and 97th Street featuring an apparent caricature of Obama advertising an upcoming sale on whole organic chicken outraged neighbor Woody Henderson.
"There are certain things that have been used to put down black people -- watermelon, fried chicken," he said.
For more, visit NBCNewYork.com
Jason Nunez of the Bronx said, "Even if he's not the president, you're going to have an African American promoting the sale of chicken? They can do better than that."
Residents and passersby agreed the man in the sign looks like Obama but not all thought it was derogatory.
"Obviously it looks like the president, but I don't think it's racist," said Joseph Joshua.
A spokesman for Whole Foods said store artists create a variety of pop culture imagery to promote sales and events. The sign advertising the chicken was put up earlier in the week but taken down "once it was brought to our attention by a shopper that it may be perceived as offensive," said the spokesman.
"There was no disrespect meant at all," the spokesman said.
Henderson thinks the chain should take more responsibility. Another neighbor, Jeffrey Schaper, said, "I don't think you can find a more pro-Democratic neighborhood. They're sort of shooting themselves in the foot. It is pretty outrageous."
Leave a Comment:
LOL...Offensive? WOW!!! What is offensive is him not doing anything to get our economy and jobs going.
Two words...... CHURCH'S & POPEYES.....
Guess Whole Foods is considered "white"..........
Remember..... RACISM is a one-way street
LMAO @ truth..
The GOP is offensive. Whole Foods is offensive and over priced. FYI Truth, the GOP are the ones standing in the way of real progress in America and have been forever.
The GOP say No jobs for the middle & lower class unless the rich keep their extra large tax cuts. The GOP want to make sure big business keeps more money to send offshore while complaining about not getting enough tax breaks and kickbacks. The GOP want to gut everything except funding for more wars that America can't afford.
The TruthComesHere wouldn't know what truth was if it landed on its face and wiggled!
""Even if he's not the president, you're going to have an African American promoting the sale of chicken? They can do better than that."
Man, that is racist, not allowing black people to have jobs where they promote the sale of chicken.
Even Tiger Woods orders collard greens with his fried chicken. Hey, maybe that's why the last million dollar golf outing was a private "affair." Tiger was sharing the ho list with the man!
Obama can't advertise chicken. I'm not allowed to mingle on "Black People Meet. com". I'm a racist if I were to start a "White People Meet. com" site. Nope, no racism left here in America.
If someone called you an a-hole, are you?!
I don't know what it is but some people are hung up on what they feel is racism. The store is trying to sell a product. You think by them being racist about it is going to sell?!
On another note, I'm white (if you haven't noticed ;-) and I love watermelon, fried chicken chitlins etc... Am I now putting down white people?
You have to look forward, not backwards or you'll be spinning your wheels with your life in the new Millennium.
And everyone knows that Whole Paychecks is a hotbed of GOP activism.
This is so funny and from his own Peeps. He is smiling so it musts be good........
Everything that blacks don't like is racist. Let's start a White History Month. Maybe a White Coaches Association.
It's not racist when blacks do it, but when whites ??????
I'm offended because when I got to Popeye's, as Steve points out, all I see are African Americans (is that the PC term going today?) when I feel that more Caucasians should be represented. It makes me feel like there is an African American club all to itself and whites are not allowed, oh wait, there are a bunch of those already...
hjack, that's been around for centuries. One association is the KKK and it meets regularly even today.
Would this still be offensive if it was a caricature of Obama smiling and eating an organic T-Bone steak?
Honestly, who cares. Don't shop there if you find it offensive.
Who are the real racists here? The people who see a black man hawking chicken (Creek Dog, all knowing, all seeing....,) to name a few, or the rest of us who see the president, even though we disagree with his policies? The real racists are the former not the latter.
While I agree the whole situation on Racism is being a bit overblown. The Political correctness crowd is working overtime being just a bit to sensitive on just about everything.
No matter what color or nationality - companies should be smart enough this day and age to know when it is appropriate to use the image of a current US President. If you can't figure that out - then you end up taking a loss on an Ad that took quite possibly thousands of dollars to create.
"hjack, that's been around for centuries. One association is the KKK and it meets regularly even today."
How about the Black Congressional Caucus? They meet in government facilities, and often meet with Obama.
Dude, if you draw the conclusion that I am a racist from my post, then you're in the same category as Woddy Henderson who bitched about Obama being depicted in an ad eating chicken.
You may want to lean towards the easy side, you know, the "Port" side.
Have a nice day...
Personally, it's their store, and there's freedom of expression here in the US. But they're flipping ignorant if they didn't think using an image of the first black US president peddling chicken would be seen by some as racist. Same with that guy in Texas putting a statue of Obama eating watermelon outside his house. Fine. Do what you want, but don't bitch about the consequences.: Loss of sales, public image, and adding fuel to any possible discrimination lawsuits in the future.
And come on. You people with the "Gee, I can't think why anyone would look at those and think of the centuries of demeaning images of blacks pictured with those props. Why being REMINDED of those makes YOU racist." Really? Are you that F'ing ignorant? Then you guys are cool if we picture white guys as all fat, old, shaking money out of people and stuffing it in their pockets, with a white hood on then, right?
I suppose we'd better stop wearing anything made of cotton so that we don't offend anyone over the slavery issue. What next??
The fact is that if you are looking to be offended, you will be offended. I guess all of those who think was offensive must not think much of blacks. After all, they are deemed not worthy enough to promote chicken. All I can say is if someone wants to pay me to promote chicken or anything else that I use or eat, but some think is offensive to white women, then I'll do it.
My suggestion for those who like to be offended: Stop living in the past! Life is too short to get upset about every little thing.
And, for those who do or say something that someone complains they find offensive: Don't worry about it. And don't change. They are liberals and they complain for the sole purpose of trying to control you. The fact is that they really aren't offended. All you have to do is look at all the offensive things libs say, yet they get away with it because the golden rule of politics is libs must not criticize libs.
I thought chicken advertising belonged to the white haired white old man with the white facial hair dressed in all white. KFC chicken is gross. Popeye chicken rocks!
It's pathetic that so many black people look so hard to find racism in everything. We'll never be past racism if every ethnic group in this country goes out of its way to constantly look for "offensive" material. Get a life!
What I find more offensive is that Whole Foods or any other business considers Americans so ignorant that they have to use "celebrities" in their ads to sell their products. What is even more offensive is that so many Americans truly are so ignorant that they will follow whatever their favorite celebrity dictates without thinking for themselves.
Why do people like you keep waiting for President Obama make your life better??
How long will you choose to keep complaining?
Open your eyes, look around, the rest of us are moving on.
If you haven't been able to make your own life better by now, it's not Obama holding you back, but likely your own crappy "can't can't can't" attitude.
Creek Dog, I miss-read your earlier post and thought you were offended by the add. My mistake, sorry.
I make no bones about my dislike for Obama's policies, however I thought the add was amusing and clever though maybe not very effective. In short, my read on the add was that Whole Foods was using the power of the presidency to sell chicken, not the association of blacks with the product.
Wow Ken, you really stepped over the line but into the truth.........
Infinite face palm * infinity. Woody Henderson needs to get a life.
Really? It is well known whole foods is anti this administration. They thought they could slip this one by. I have quit shopping at whole foods since they have decided to make politics part of their daily "specials". Plus Trader Joes is much better.
Also, to those who are offended by a depiction of an African-American promoting the sale of chicken, I have 5 words...
"Love that chicken at Popeyes..."
Would people still be offended with a Mitt Romney ad to go box of Lobster Tails and a Filet? Nope.......
Apost,
Popeye's is a disengenuous comparison because ALL they serve is chicken, it's a chicken restaurant that uses a black spokesperson. Now, if they were a burger joint that came out with fried chicken and targeted white people for the burgers while specifically targeting black people for the chicken, it'd be more on point.
Whole Foods is grocery store, that sells a multitude of products, yet only uses the black president to advertise for their fried chicken. Was it meant to be a play on the stereotype, I believe so. Is it offensive, I guess it depends on your sensitivity level. Either way, it's piss poor marketing because, unless you live under a rock, they knew some people were gonna be offended.
They had the option of keeping it up and losing customers, or taking it down. They removed it. That should be the end of the story.
This is stupid...just people out to cause problems where there are none...We do not have the right to not be offended or have hurt feelings,Whole foods uses many character drawings of famous people but this guy says he didn't like the pic or what the sign said..What the hell was offensive about the words used to advertise ? I didnt see anything offencive at all,How many "insulting"pics of other presidents ment to offend did we see during the Bush years?? Or for that matter Christians,Tea Party you name it...Chicken is good,watermelon is good,so is rice and pasta..I don't hear Asians and Itallians getting pizzed off or the Chinese for the Italians getting the credit for it,What's the big freakin deal ? People need to start acting like grown ups and quit running to the teacher every time someone hurts your feelers,Dont we have more pressing issues ?
The true racists are the folks who equate black people with chicken.
Like the Bob Byrd wing of the Democrat party!
I mean, who really sees chicken and thinks "President Obama"? These are the racists dividing our country by skin color. And the old media such as NBC perpetuates it.
Romney should endorse white bread. He and his wife would do a terrific job.
Sara,
It was advertising CHICKEN NOT FRIED CHICKEN,And Mz Obama is all about healthy food,is chicken not healthy? It was also Presidents weekend...everyone was using the Presidents Face as well as past Presidents....
Why is everyone so quick to use the race card? We have a President that has Black heritage and yet that doesn't show how un-racisist we are ? Most people who dislike Obama don't care he has a little Black in him,he is also half Caucasion as well as Arab ansistory...This is not about race,It's about a bunch of Winers that find conflict wherever they look..they are called Drama Queens/Kings.
I agree the ad was offensive. There's no reason to insult chickens thusly.
Wet Willy - you're so right. No reason to kick a chicken while he's down!
Steer2 can you provide the family tree that indicates Arab ancestry.
Or is that just another Teasucker lie?
I like the new word you coined. What is the definition of "ansistory".
Ster,
First, Kenyan isn't Arab, it's African. Second, if they wanted to use the First Lady's campaign against obesity as the reasoning behind this why didn't they put HER face on something like asparagus? It doesn't matter if the chicken was fried, anyone with half a brain knows what they were going for. President's day??? Why not put Jefferson on the chicken? Why didn't they have OTHER POTUS's faces on OTHER products? Third, NO us electing Obama does NOT mean racism is dead. Racism will NEVER be gone. Just like sexism won't and homophobia won't and anti-semitism won't. Because we're human. Last I checked we still had black people who don't like white people, white people who don't like black people, red people who don't like yellow people, and yada, yada, yada. We may have made progress to where the majority of us aren't, but you have to be willfully ignorant to think that racism is dead.
The point remains, however, that regardless of whether or not YOU or I find this offensive, it was horrible marketing, because anyone with half a brain could have told them SOMEBODY was gonna be offended. However, they took it down. It should end with that. There is no need for further uproar.
Sarah: Yet if the ad showed a white person, another group would be using it to count how many times a white person was used in ads when the black population is so many %.....
Just like the political argument given by the Democrats (quite successfully). They claim the Republicans are rascist, since they don't put up black candidates, but when they do, and have Republican platforms they are called 'tokens' or 'not a serious candidate' or something else to denote that is is just for show. In other words, you're a rascist if you use a black person in an ad, or rascist if you don't. Tiring argument that needs to go away.
Persoanlly, if I saw the ad, I would have laughed that they think the President shops at a local grocery store. Just as stupid as showing a President pumping gas. Regardless of color. Some people always see race....
Stunned,
Your comparison to a white person would be on point, if they were, I don't know used to sell white sheets or hoods at a linens store, when the rest of the marketing was aimed at the black population. It isn't whether or not you use a white person or a black person, it's the CONTEXT of that usage.
Do I think Republicans are racist? No, not at all. But I do think, based on their platform, that they're the party that attracts more racists, as they also do homophobia. If you look at history, government and federal power is what helped black people achieve equal rights and protections, so when you have a party talking about "state's rights", yeah, I'd be skeptical too.
Sarah-3043284....."Do I think Republicans are racist? No, not at all. But I do think, based on their platform, that they're the party that attracts more racists, as they also do homophobia.".
You talk about racism, yet throw out the race card at the same time. Get a frigging life.
Based upon YOUR observations, any advertisements would be racist and blame Republicans.
IDO,
I wouldn't expect you to understand the subtle differences between everyone in a party being racist, and the party platform that attracts racists. Don't be too hard on yourself.
How so? I love when people post a conclusion to an argument, without actually presenting the argument. It's called the fallacy of proof by assertion. Is that too "liberal, intellectual elitist" for you?
RACISM is a ONE-WAY street........ for the left..........
Whole Foods seems to have forgotten what side its bread is buttered on!
LINCOLN was a republican!!!!!!!!!!! THE Democrats where for SLAVERY!! That is history no matter how the left may spin it!
THE DEMS are the party of racism!! Always have been.. FACTS ARE FACTS
@Sarah -You are actually the biggest racist in here. You look at everything from a racial perspective instead of just seeing it for what it is, an ad on Presidents day weekend featuring the current president. People like you go around looking for thing to be offended about and constantly read racial meaning into things where none is present or intended. This clearly demonstrates your own latent racism which you are overcompensating for by intentionally looking for things to take offense at to try and show how enlightened you are. The reality is you are the racist, not the people who put up the ad.
JS,
Can you quote where I said I was offended?
Isn't pop psychology fun, though? Here let me try...
You're a middle aged dude who peaked in high school and now you've come to the realization that middle management is going to be the peak of your career. You're bored with your home life and unfulfilled so you post assumptions about strangers on line, particularly young one's who's youth and future you resent. However, you feel inferior to them, because not only are they younger, but also more articulate and educated, which is probably all true of your boss too (including being younger than you), so instead of arguing a position on a substantive level, you resort to cute little pop psychology assumptions.
Wow, that is fun! Your turn...
THE DEMS are the party of racism!! Always have been.. FACTS ARE FACTS
This is an extraordinarily ignorant statement. Yes, the Dems were once the party of racists. But, they moved past it, especially with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. This caused the racists to bail from the party, The GOP was there to welcome them with open arms. I'm not saying most Republicans are racists, just that, if you're a White racist in America, you're probably a Republican. Of course, not all racists are White. If you're a Black of Latino racist, you're likely to be a Dem.
No it is a FACT!!
It is a fact that the Dixiecrats were racists and Lincoln was a Republican, yes. It is also a fact that the Democratic party, during the early to mid 20th Century consisted of two factions. The Dixiecrats and the Northern Democrats (your FDR's and JFK's). It is also a fact that Johnson, originally a Dixiecrat from Texas but who changed ideologies later in life, signed into effect the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. As a show of protest, the Dixiecrats left the party.
As you can see, it was more split by region, then political party. Those regions then became our current GOP/DEM parties. NEITHER party resembles what it was during the time of Lincoln.
Basing an opinion of either party on what they were 50-150 years ago, is illogical at best.
SIESTASIS - it's a free country. People are entitled to their opinions. You don't seem to be bothered by the fact that NBCNews.com has to be one of the most liberal, leftist media groups in existence.
Ronald Hussein Reagan - NEWS FLASH!!! The election was over almost four months ago and Romney did not win. He is a private citizen and does not run the country. People like you who find it necessary to continue to harp on Romney are only showing your extreme ignorance, lack of ability to stay current, and inability to move forward. Get a life!
I believe I am witnessing, certain respects, some of the worst racism in my lifetime.
My hometown grew up around a beautiful, glacier-created lake. An area was created with a lovely, sandy beach, playground toys, a pavillion which included food sales as well as a ballroom. Boats could be launched and tethered at one end of this area. For us kids it was a paradise.
It was also a lesson in the realities of life in America at that time. No blacks were allowed. I remember small groups of them approaching the gate only to be turned away. Looking back, I think this was part of an early protest movement. Since there were no blacks living in the county, they had to come from an urban area.
I say society is more racist, in certain respects, today because of the sly expressions such as the sign at question, the obdurate insistence that the President was not born in Hawaii, the carping away on Mrs. Obama's clothes, the blatant racist remarks on threads such as this where anonymity is offered.
@Sarah - Since you've taken the time to address the errors of others:
"...particularly young one's who's youth and future..." should be:
"...particularly young ones whose youth and future..."
Unless you meant that the person you are insulting favors the assumptions of an unnamed youth, you do not want to use the possessive here. Also, "who's" is a contraction of "who is," while "whose" indicates belonging to the subject or object. Perhaps you did mean "who is youth and future you resent," which would be a rather poetic turn of phrase, but not grammatically incorrect.
I know, I know, Sarah, you're welcome. Or do I mean, your welcome?
When NO blacks appear in a series of adverts for chicken will we STILL complain? And this time about non-representation? Sheesh.
Cornel,
Well thank you so much for the lesson. It truly takes intelligence to pick out the grammatical errors in a post typed in less than five minutes and not proof read. If only the article were on hastily written Newsvine posts and their plethora of grammatical and/or spelling errors, you'd have a real point.
No substantive argument so you'll go after the grammar. Yawn. Been there, done that.
So in other words, not a single Black Person likes Chicken or Watermelon? i find THAT offensive.
Can anyone explain why, in the towns populated by a black majority (95%), the Popeyes, Churches, KFC, Lee's, and independent chicken chains are the absolute NICEST establishments in town? No other restaurants survive. Even the Dairy Queen closed - they don't like ice cream, even if it is soft serve. EVERYTHING else around them is a total dump. Roofs caving in. Burn outs. Yards uncut and full of junk. Old chain link fencing around the front yards. ENTIRE walls gone from businesses and houses like they were hit with a mortar round. WTF?
But the chicken places shine like a new diamond.
Sarah? Calling other people disingenuous? I'll call you IGNORANT! Popeye's sells shrimp, biscuits, apple pies, jambalaya, etc. Or is your ass too white to ever VISIT a Popeye's? They do not just sell chicken.
Rachel,
Really? Instead of arguing on the topic, you want to argue about Popeye's menu? Okay, yes, they do have other things on the menu, you got me. I should have said it's PRIMARILY a chicken restaurant. Hence the name, Popeye's CHICKEN. So please answer my question, is Popeye's CHICKEN primarily a CHICKEN restaurant? Yeah, my original point remains the same.
If ignorance was based on either semantics or knowledge of fast food restaurant menus, I'd truly be ignorant. And by the way, YOUR argument just raised the bar for inane nitpicking.
Namey,
How's it going? And by the way, I really like the apple pies at Popeye's and the spicy chicken. Being smarter than you doesn't equate to pretentious. I believe the term you're looking for is arrogant. And I've noticed you still have your inferiority complex kicking, huh, but at least you licked your wounds from the last time I embarrassed you. Tell me, are you going to use the same tactic as last time? Chauvinism is so easy to see through, you know.
Now, did you just want some of my attention, or did you have a substantive argument you'd like to address to me?
As I usually am. See, arrogance, not pretension. You should really get those terms straight.
Exhibit A. Come on, give me another one. And you got awfully defensive there. Hey, if doesn't apply, why not just let it fly??? (Cough) Inferiority complex (Cough).
And I don't think I'm smarter than everyone, just you. And that REALLY sticks in your craw, doesn't it? I truly love being the topic of conversation, too. So thanks for that. Although, your on going obsession with me is a tad bit creepy. I mean, you really give me way too much power in your life, this the second time in a week you've engaged me about me. Come on, I'm not THAT cool and you have to have better @!$%# to do than discuss me. I'm even willing to bet you'll post ABOUT ME, again.
Since you seem to dislike me so much, why not just put me on ignore?
Sure you did, ABOUT ME, in a manner where you know I'd read it. (Cough) BS (Cough). Listen, I'm sorry about that girl in high school that wouldn't go to prom with you. I'm sure that must have hurt, and I realize I remind you of her, thinking I'm so much better than you and all that, but it really wasn't me. I promise, you graduated LONG before I even got to high school.
Now come on, do what I say and show me another post...
Thanks. One more???
Mule
ID love to educate you on Obama's Ancestory since you and his devoted followers think you know it all...He is 50% Caucasian some English,Irish and other Caucasian lines associated with being "White" and then you have his Father of which he is 6.25 % African Negro from a great great grandparent and 43.75% Aribic(Arab) and those desendence were Aribic Slave Traders...It's all over the web,And Im not a "Teasucker" anymore than you are, the difference is it doesn't insult me ;) have a great day ! And oops for any miss spellings,I mistakenly thought most understand what I was trying to say but obviously your rosé colored glasses must have fogged up on you :)
I am sorry but that complaintant is IGNORANT. Ok...He was offended.....ok he requested it be removed.....once the store was made aware that someone was offended they removed it PROMPTLY.....even though they DID NOT AGREE......so why on earth is he even considering some sort of protest????? This is why America has become so INTOLERANT .......because NOBODY can accept an apology, forgive and Forget!!! Grow up People!!!
His hair offended me, look like a damn mop end. I'm sick of the damn race card.
"Mighty white" of some of y'all to be so OVER racism. Here, here <clink>.
You know who's not over it? Some of the people who still have to put up with being targeted with it. Especially people with relatives who had to fear for their freakin' LIVES due to it. Damned if that stuff doesn't stick in your mind a while.
Oh, boo-hoo, sullyness! There you are feeling sorry for yourself! If you don't like the situation, then get off you fat rear and do something about it rather than sitting there complaining and trying to figure out how you can continue to blame everyone else for your pathetic life.
Whole Foods used to be seen as a Liberal or Progressive business. Now, it has become a complete joke. This racist chapter makes it even worse. The CEO has sold his soul for mere pennies. Pennies for sale. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtaN8_XeX1g
how is this different from Washington and Lincoln signing about bluetooth in a Honda? ( dumbest commercial ever BTW)
Well, their images are in the public domain and used gratis all the time and no one has to pay for their images. Now, if President Obama wants to make a commercial, they need to pay him union rates. And he has to agree to be in the commercial.
And considering that Whole Paycheck is anti-Obama and is all pro-1%, why would anyone think he would tout their goods?
Nope, a racialized statement that is the norm for the right wing teabaggers.
Wolfie, correct me if I'm wrong, but it is my understanding that ALL presidents' images (including live ones) are public domain because he is the ultimate "public servant". It may be disrespectful and in bad taste to capitalize on a living president, but I don't know that it's illegal.
Are you old enough to remember the hoopla that surrounded a movie (sorry, I don't remember which, just the hoopla) that used clips of president Clinton while he was in office? The old scifi movie Alien Nation used clips of president Reagan. Do you remember the (c)rap album cover back in the 90's that had president G.H.W. Bush walking towards a street corner behind which a group of black thugs were waiting to mug him? If you were around then, did you complain about that? Was that not a "racialized" statement from the far-left reverse racist arm of the "liberal" "leftwingnuts?" 'Course it was.
Seriously, I'm not being facetious, if the image of a sitting president is not public domain please educate me. I'm willing to change my mind.
It's amazing how ultra-sensitive people have become. ONE person notices and complains, and suddenly it's national news. Sheesh.
The left looks for every thing that they can to twist into a racist comment.
That is how the left gets it's way!! JUST SCREAM RACISM!!! Works EVERY TIME
CC, generally, using clips of presidents is probably public already. Here is a bit of extra knowledge about what is and what isn't public domain:
http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Graphics.shtml
I would say that there is a difference between using a presidential image in a movie and hawking fried chicken.
And if the right wing teabaggers play the race card it is only because they have no other cards in their very teeny tiny small deck.
GM Scooter
PC has gone beyond any sense to the definition of the word "rational".
What is even more offensive are the comments of people telling others to get over it or denying that they see any racism. Every time someone is offended do you people always run around and try and defend the offending content? Talk about get a life. People of all races have a right to object to something they find offensive!
You defend his right to state his opinion yet you are offended when others state their disagreement with him. Hypocrisy much?
If I went around protesting everything in this country that offended me I wouldn't have time for a life. You need to pick your battles and this is one that wasn't worth picking IMO.
Sensitivity has become appalling. Now only crackers can be in ads 4 chicken. Piss off
Not surprising. Whole Foods is a repub/teabagger company anyways. I'd go to walmart before I'd go to WF.
LOL Walmart shoppers are what got Obama a second term. I assume you think teabagger is not in any way meant to be offensive. Your a prime example of complete stupidity. So if you can use that word to describe a group I guess it would have been fine for Whole Foods to say "Have some chicken this ____— likes it. I mean tit for tat right, please explain the difference.
Please prove your Info Randy......
Whine whine D Lock Faux Snooze named you low lites TEABAGGERS. LOL.
D: "I assume you think Teabagger is not in any way meant to be offensive" I'm curious-what name would you use to describe members of the Tea Party? I find no offense in the word Teabagger. I find no offense in the word Teabag. Do you have a preference? Now something along the lines of peehag-I can see where that might offend someone.......
RANDY
Really?? Whole Foods sells meat and poultry free of growth hormones and antibiotics, unprocessed grains and cereals, ...
Sure sounds like a Republican company to me LOL
Ahh so only white people can promote chicken now. That isn't racist though......
Amazing how stupid and hypocritical this country has become.
Only if it's white meat, otherwise black people can promote dark meat...
The PC stuff has gone too far...although it would be interesting to see an establishment put up a sign of some toothless southern white gentleman with his gun and bible in hand and a cig dangling from their mouth with a line drawn through it...surely none of you fine southern gentlemen with a gun and bible would take no offense right?
When I go to CHURCH'S & POPEYES only black people are working there. Is this racism 101?
Same here, but I don't go anymore..I don't like being the minority
I'm not quite sure I understand why this would be considered racist. I'm white, and I would bet that I eat more chicken than most of my African-American neighbors. Not that I'd buy it at Whole Foods, anyway. I'm not made of money! :-P
Good grief.
Actually, if any of you knew a bit about Whole Foods and the jacka$$ conservative rich jerk that owns it you would know they knew exactly what they were doing.
Whole Foods is the company that thought despite the fact it charges 20.00 for a chicken, that it's too much to ask to raise the minimum wage or provide it's employees with health care.
Not only was this a slap a the President, it was a slap at the famously liberal Upper West Side of Manhattan.
I'll never shop in Whole Foods again, not because of the President. He's a big boy. He's probably confronted this sort of thing all of his life, but because of the way they treat their employees and their entitled attitude. The sooner they are out of business the better for all of us.
mj...Check your facts! Whole Foods has a wonderful benefit plan. Especially for part time employees.
Some people with no life otherwise just have to go around looking for something to snivel about.
Yes you do.
So only whites can sell fried chicken (and watermelon!) or it's racism? Never in my life had I heard such a thing, and yes, I do know the 'stereotype' of blacks and fried chicken but never perceived it as racist. Pretty soon Popyes will have to drop the spokes lady from it's commercials. Oh, and before I read the article I assumed someone was offended because they had the *President* selling the chicken, not b/c he was black. Ay ay yay.
Here's an idea. A sign that says "WOW! CHICKEN! $1.99/lb! BUY IT NOW!" No need to put anybody on the sign. Or make up a mascot, a badger or something, to pitch goods.
Free Advertising for Whole Foods ;) good job guys !
"There is no such thing as bad publicity." ~ Author unknown (often incorrectly attributed to P.T. Barnum)
It appears that Whole Foods actually employs someone to draw people/pictures on their entryway sign. I'm sure the only thought going through the mind of that store's artist was, "It's President's Day, so I'll use the current President."
Wouldn't it shock everyone if the store artist is African American?
BillyBob,
Agreed ;) on both
I agree it is offensive! It gives chicken a bad name.
They need to fire the guy who came up with that.
Idiot you are..
D Lock was standing in front of a mirror when keyed that comment.
Dude you might want to try that mirror thing yourself.
"I am offended" is a completely worthless statement. Who cares? You choose to be offended. Nobody should care if somebody is offended or not.
One does not choose to be offended. One chooses to complain about it.
Businesses should care if they offend somebody, because offending people isn't a great way to separate them from their money. But businesses make the choice about whether to take action on something somebody finds offensive. Whole Foods could have told the complainer to go away. But then we'd be reading an article about how Whole Foods has an offensive ad and refuses to do anything about it. The backlash would drag on for weeks. Instead, nobody is going to remember this by next week.
Pragmatic,
While businesses should care about offending people, you Can Not please everyone all of the time ever....someone will always have a complaint.
They should have left it up because it was not offensive,we need to quit caving to every little snivel.Were turning into a bunch of crying baby's.They should have takin a stand against this race card being used so often it means nothing anymore,like crying wolf.
joey scat --
you have a GREAT name, as it tells your whole story.
Isn't it an amazing coincident that the owner of Whole Foods was is a critic of President Obama and gave large sums of money to both Mitt Romney's campaign and the Republican Party. Of coure they didn't mean anything by it. They're just clueless.
I gave to the Mitt Romney's campaign and the Republican Party also and I love fried chicken and watermelon too.
This seems to only be an issue between one person and the store why can't it remain there instead of becoming another racial football.
For years I have been driving over 25 miles from a Houston suburb to shop at Whole Foods. I was amused when John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods squawked about his taxes and blamed Obama, but this ad is definitely racist. I can't change his personal views, but if I shop at Whole Foods, I am condoning his views, so no more 25 mile drives just to buy groceries.
I wouldn't do that to shop anywhere. I don't need anything that much.
For the love of Pete! There are many ads in which persons of color endorse freakin' fried chicken. So what! Black people cannot attest to loving fried chicken now and is it considered racist if a white person says that his or her black friend is coming over for a home made fried chicken dinner? I wish people could stop looking for a fight.
Honestly, I dislike any presidental representation being used, from a Honda ad to the Ga Lottery ads that are out now. But according to this forum, those are ok as long as they don't use Obama? How do you know how he feels about the use of his image?
Just because the store chain is owned by a white man doesn't make their intentions evil. I doubt the advertising department did anything on purpose and they took the ad down as soon as someone complained. NO, they don't need to fire the ad person unless they prove he or she did something intentionally racist.
Sadly, an article about an advertisement turns into yet another ridiculous discussion about everything except the ad. Get a grip people. The election is over. All rich people are not evil, racist, or even white. NEWS FLASH - there are rich Democrats and some of the rich about whom you complain are actually African American. And your rich Democrats are not going to help you pay your light bill or send your kids to college.
In fact, anyone who has honestly worked for a living and earned enough/saved enough to be considered "rich" deserves their wealth. And the wealthy in this country support many, many charities. They have earned the right to support whatever they choose, not be forced to pour money into coffers for people who think the government owes them a living. No, I am not a "rich" person by any monetary definition. However, I know envy when I see it and it is a dangerous force.
If it's a 'pro-Democratic neighborhood', why are they shopping at Whole Foods in the first place?? The CEO of Whole Foods is a Libertarian wingnut.
Does anyone recall what holiday it was on Monday???? It was Presidents Day. Has no one but myself made that connection? Stores all over the US are having President's Day sales this week. I'd be willing to bet that that was the reason they used a caricature of the President. I don['t seriously believe that a business as big and widespread as Whole Foods is going to try a cheap racist shot like they are being accused of. I don't shop at Whole Foods much, but I don't agree about the ad and I do support the President.
Must have been lip smackin' good
hey hey wy grampa --
1960 called and they want their racist humor back. have a cig, slap your wife around, and change those depends already!!!
If President Romney's picture had been used, would the Mormons have complained? Come on! Let's get off these "politically correct" excesses. Mrs. Obama has been an outstanding spokesperson for healthier eating. Mr. Obama can't be "used" to support healthy chicken?