A Russian ad showing an image resembling the US President Barack Obama to promote a vanilla-and-chocolate ice cream has stirred anger.
With the financial tsunami hitting the world today, selling new products is an risky undertaking. Companies try to use optimistic marketing messages in a bid fight the gloomy atmosphere. And Obama rings bells - a famous figure promoting Hope for Change.
A Russian advertising agency has used an ad with a figure resembling the US President Barack Obama in front of the White House to promote a new vanilla-and-chocolate ice cream from Yekaterinburg, a major city in central Russia.
The slogan of the chocolate-in-vanilla ice cream, known as Duet says: The Flavor of the Week! Black in White! The image of a black man standing in front of Capitol Hill could be considered racist.
The advertisement drew serious criticism from human rights groups who said it was vulgar.
A spokesperson for a Moscow-based human rights organization told Sky News that the image could spark racist sentiments even if it was not carrying any aggressive message in it.
Andrei Gubaidullin, the originator of the advertisement, told AFP that his campaign did not intend to carry any racist message. He explained that Russia, unlike the West, had a different point of view about ethnicity.
This is not racism for Russia. It's just fun, the creative director of the advertising agency said.
Many sales executives believe Obama is a better poster for hope than anything else. There are Obama dolls, Obama T-shirts, Obama soap-on-a-rope.
Not wanting to miss the boat, food companies are now in on the act.
In Germany, a frozen food company is hanging on Obama's coattails to raise sales with a new product: Obama fingers. The company claims it is unaware any the possible racist overtones of the product.
Come on man it's russia most of there population is white and everybody dose not look at everyting the same as we do!! Live and let live I am broke who gives a shit!! LOL Jah Bless this response is not directed at the poster of this but to the lame as people out there who tink everyting somebody say or do is racist Life is not always black and white.
Live and smoke if not live and dance or someting tell dem idiot fe get a life!!
-- Edited by Gehto Travler on Friday 27th of March 2009 09:26:27 AM