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Hardee's (Carl's Jr) Flat Buns Teacher Commercial
09/09/07
Why does the same company have two names, Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, for the same restaurant? What was the guy's name? Hardee or Carl? Anyways (from here):
A fast food chain’s racy new advertising campaign has left at least one teacher’s organization demanding it be pulled.
The ad for St. Louis, Missouri-based Hardee’s Corporation features a sexy teacher, making provocative moves in front of the class while two students rap to a song called "Flat Buns,” according to a report on myFOXstl.com.
"How irresponsible can you get?” said the Tennessee Education Association in a statement on their website. ”At this very moment, there are female teachers in high school classrooms with 30+ students who are working hard to teach our children so that they can compete in today's world. It is unbelievably demeaning to every one of them to promote a television advertisement showing a young teacher gyrating on top of her desk while boys in the class rap about her body in order to sell hamburgers!"
Welcome to the modern world, fellow teachers. I don't know why this would be any more offensive than any other art today (Art is supposed to offend, no?) Why would we think we'd be immune from the low-grade culture we see every day?
Teachers are in a position of authority over children so I guess it's a little more justified for us to be upset than for car washers to be offended by the Paris Hilton commercial, but let's not be too self-righteous (primo example here).
Bottom line: In a free society, you can't completely control the culture or worry too much about what people say about you or your profession. We, as teachers, should act dignified. Trust me when I say that most decent people, including students, will treat us respectfully in return. Where we can be a positive counter to the truly outrageous (through letter writing, etc.), however, its appropriate to push back a little. It's also true that repeated, petty criticisms cause people to tune one out (I apologize for the mushy moderation, but I'm a man of the middle- sue me).
Bonus point:
1. The commercial is fun and entertaining (I admit to a few enthusiastic viewings), but is everything fun, good? Good for society? Just a question. Discuss.
15 comments
By the way, as much as I like gyrations, this kind of thing is bad. Not because it's a teacher, but because it promotes a view of sex that should be discouraged.
OUT. Totally out, until you can show some respect for female teachers. Your earnings per share will be reduced in the near future. Mark my words. You have crossed into women's territory that will not be supportive of your new commercials.
I, for one, am hopefully a beginning of a landslide to complain to you. Carl's Jr is OFF my list. Now, until you regain the strength of women.
Even then, I'm not sure. You really have enfuriated me.
No Carl's Juniors for me....
LA
Halen(Roth) generation to like this
commercial. Hot For Teacher was a great
video so I can't get enough of this
commercial when it's on. And I usually
hate Carl's Jr. commercials.
have added my 2 cents worth, some not. However, for all you who
feel that the people who oppose this demeaning commercial are too
out of touch with 2007 - well, you have just found out that morality
wins this one!! It was just announced that after a barrage of
complaints from parents and teachers to Carl's Jr. website, they
will be redoing the commercial without the teacher.
Once again, our voices have been heard and made a difference!
Now just get out there and put the same effort behind government
issues!!!!!!!
Everyone knows that teachers deserve the utmost respect, but come on, by protesting this it only made teachers appear stodgy and humorless. I'm very sad for the teacher's union (assuming) supporting this waste of time. I believe it did teachers more harm than good getting involved in a protest. Any group not able to enjoy this kind of humor is not only troubled, but boring as well. I say this to only educate those that petitioned against it.
Special interests having undue influence ruins and sucks the few moments of pleasure this often difficult world holds.
Respectfully submitted.
I think it is funny how teachers are offended by this ad yet construction men aren't out crying about the Vegas.com commercial putting the man on the stage of a stripclub! I'm sick and tired of people boohooing over every little commercial, song, ad, etc. Get a Life...it's an AD!
Do you think the celebrities like their faces published everywhere? Probably not, but the face it everyday and move on. I remember a time where certain 50's Rock n Roll (Elvis & Beatles) were looked at as "bad". Hmmm...doesn't seem that is the way it turned out in the end!
What kind of roll are we teaching children that we are going to boohoo over every little thing?
I say Kudos to the man who created the ad. Give him a raise for looking outside the box! Stepping out of what society deems we have to abide by, taking a risk, etc.
PS ~ My husband's comment was perfect...maybe if teachers were that hot, kids would stay in school!
Secondly, the archetype of the hot teacher is nothing new. See Van Halen video for Hot For Teacher circa 1984. Is this really offensive?
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