Was Alleged Racist Tea Ad "Too Hot?"

I wish this could be chalked up to British humor, but it's for real. Fortunately, the ad was determined to not be racist. But it's frightening, if not unexpected for the UK, that something like this would even become an issue.

I'm glad we had a little tea party of our own some centuries back and hope we don't forget all of the freedoms we've come to appreciate, allowing even more of this type of potential censorship in America going forward.

A light-hearted TV advert for Twinings tea in which three white women flirt with a young black American has been cleared of playing on negative racial stereotypes.

The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said it had decided not to uphold a lone complaint from a viewer who believed the ad suggested black men were sexually promiscuous and existed to provide sexual services for white women.

The complainant, a woman who has not been identified by the ASA, alleged that an ad for Lady Grey tea and another for Earl Grey, which also featured the black character, were both offensive and harmful.

In the plug for Earl Grey, Stephen Fry is seen behind the counter of a tea shop as the black male, named Tyrone, writes a message on a blackboard informing customers that the drink "puts the zing in your ding-a-ling".

Dismissing the claims of racial bias, an ASA panel described the innuendo used to promote the aromatic beverages as unlikely to cause widespread offence.

The panel observed: "Although we acknowledged the innuendo was mildly sexual, we did not consider that it was reliant on the young man's ethnic origins or a racial stereotype.

"We noted the character of Tyrone was shown as an attractive, confident young man... clearly enjoying the attentions of, and flirting with, the women."

Hampshire-based Twinings, which traces its history back to 1706, defended the ads, which first aired in October 2006, against the claim of racism.

The firm's advertising agency, Lowe, informed the ASA that the black character had been chosen as the "perfect foil" for Fry.

Comments

[WAHOO WILLIE]

Yes this is all getting out of hand. I hear Lowes and Home Despot are being forced to change the hispanic word for black on their paint cans.

[IslamoLlama]

"-- I wish this could be chalked up to British humor, but it's for real. Fortunately, the ad was determined to not be racist. But it's frightening, if not unexpected for the UK, that something like this would even become an issue. --"

I agree. How dare the ASA handle a complaint from a British citizen, weigh the complaint on its merits, and produce a sensible response that even a Riehl Worlder can appreciate.

In America, of course, we do things different. If some snot nosed liberal has a complaint in this country, we send a bunch of guys dressed like Indians over to her house to steal her tea and throw it off a boat. Because TV censorship and protesting import taxes without adequate representation in government are exactly the same issue.

Good old Dan. Mixing metaphors till he makes your head explode.

[seekeronos]

"--- I hear Lowes and Home Despot are being forced to change the hispanic word for black on their paint cans. ---"

Interesting. I wonder what to?

"Negro" can be both the colour and the term used to describe the race, although typically the race is referred to as "la raza negra".

The more formal academic term for the race would be "los personas Afroamericanos".

But what of the colour?

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"But what of the colour?"

Seeker; what are you doing to my joke?

[templar knight]

Willie, let's just say your joke was "off colour" from the very start. Ha!

[WAHOO WILLIE]

"Willie, let's just say your joke was "off colour" from the very start. Ha!'

LOL

[seekeronos]

:P

[Fast exchanger]

Well done, Thanks much!