Burger King apologized Tuesday for an “insensitive” ad that its New Zealand branch put out which showed people using oversize chopsticks to eat the fast food chain’s new “Vietnamese” chicken sandwich.
“The ad in question is insensitive and does not reflect our brand values regarding diversity and inclusion,” a Burger King spokeswoman told CNN.
The caption for the ad on Instagram tells viewers to “Take your taste buds all the way to Ho Chi Minh City.” The advertisement was for Burger King’s new Vietnamese Sweet Chilli Tendercrisp they were advertising in New Zealand.
Maria Mo, a Korean-New Zealander who tweeted out a clip of the original video before it was deleted, said she “couldn’t believe such blatantly ignorant ads are still happening in 2019.”
She called the ad “Orientalism.”
[Previous coverage: Burger King roasts Trump for Twitter typo: ‘We’re all out of hamberders’]
So this is the new Burger King ad for a “Vietnamese” burger ok coolcoolcoolcoolcool CHOPSTICKS R HILARIOUS right omg etc ?????? pic.twitter.com/zVD8CN04Wc
— 마리아. Maria. (@mariahmocarey) April 4, 2019
While Burger King has taken down the ad for the sandwich, the sandwich is still being listed on the company’s menu.
