Burger King to scrap ad after complaint

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Fast food giant Burger King apologized Tuesday for an advertisement featuring a squat Mexican draped in his country's flag next to a tall American cowboy and said it would change the campaign.

Mexico's ambassador to Spain said posters released in Europe for Burger King's new Tex-Mex style "Texican whopper," a cheeseburger with chile and spicy mayonnaise, inappropriately displayed the Mexican flag, whose image is protected under national law.

The ambassador wrote a letter complaining to Burger King and requested the ad campaign be discontinued.

Burger King said the ads were meant to show a mixture of influences from the southwestern United States and Mexico, not to poke fun at Mexican culture, but said it would replace them "as soon as commercially possible."

"Burger King Corporation has made the decision to revise the Texican Whopper advertising creative out of respect for the Mexican culture and its people," it said in a statement.

"The existing campaign falls fully within the legal parameters of the United Kingdom and Spain where the commercials are being aired and were not intended to offend anyone," the company added.

A TV version of the ad shows the strapping cowboy and the pint-sized Mexican wrestler -- nicknamed "Just a Little Bit" -- living together as roommates. At one point, the American lifts up the Mexican to help him put a trophy on a high shelf.

Mexico was involved in another controversial ad campaign last year when Absolut vodka posted billboard ads in Mexico with an early 19th century map showing chunks of the United States as part of Mexico.

The campaign angered many U.S. citizens and was later dropped.

I think another one that should go is the square pants bob crap, i hate that with a passion and has turned me away from burger king.

North Star wrote:

I think another one that should go is the square pants bob crap, i hate that with a passion and has turned me away from burger king.

LOLOL Do you mean Sponge Bob Square Pants????? That was too funny, Mike! Thanks for the good laugh this morning!

I don't watch much TV, so I can't comment on this one... Just thought I would rib Mike a bit this morning LOLOL

I said the same thing Mike!!!!!!! I think that thing is pure TRASH!!!!!!

Burger King food is terrible anyway.....I avoid fast food as much as possible except on road trips annd then I like Arbys or Checkers.....or a Whataburger.

McDonalds wins my vote.

I love their onion rings and zesty sauce. Besides that I prefer McDonalds.