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VW's Super Bowl ad accused of being racist
Photo credit: Volkswagen | Max Page starred in this Volkswagen commercial that aired during Super Bowl XLVI in February.
Volkswagen has had some of the most memorable advertising in recent Super Bowl history — Darth Vader, kid, remember? -- but rare is the ad that is actually memorable before it appears in the game.
This brings us to das auto's “Get In. Be Happy” which has generated a bit of flak for use of a Jamaican voice for a white actor (from Minnesota, no less). It's got half a million views on YouTube already and if you click below, that'll be half a million and one.
But here's the thing: Is it racist? Obviously, it's playing with the idea behind the old Bobby McFerrin song “Don't Worry, Be Happy” song. Bobby, I believe, is from NYC, not Jamaica. But goes a step further. Critics might say it reinforces stereotypes. In fact, critics have, including Charles Blow, in the New York Times. Supporters might say: Don't worry, be happy, no big deal. What think you?
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Tags: volkswagon ad , get in , be happy
