Twinings Titillating Ads Create Racial Controversy “Over There”
March 26, 2008 by Marye Audet
Filed under Off-Beat Items, Tea News
I am pretty clueless sometimes when it comes to ads. Twinings tea seems to have ruffled some feathers across the pond with their ads for Earl Grey and Lady Grey teas.
Tyrone is an African American who is working with the owner of a “proper tea shop”. According to this article, many felt that the ad had sexual content and was racial profiling, full of innuendo, and relied on the young man’s ethnicity to convey a sexual message.
I don’t know…here is one of the ads…what do you think? Is Tyrone a sexy black man, fulfilling white women’s fantasies? ‘Cause he looks like a nice guy but he doesn’t do a thing for me, personally.
Maybe I’m horribly insensitive, but I don’t see anything wrong with the ads – certainly no worse at all than the “Diet Coke Break” ads we had here some years back.
Young good looking guy stealing the thunder from his older boss? I just can’t see the controversy.
no controversy here… nice eye candy though… LOL
I didn’t either..which is why I thought the article was odd. Maybe I am dense.
Oh..the coke guy. yeah….now that was an ad.
After viewing the ad, I don’t see the big deal. I thought it was cute and enjoyed it
Maybe a little “innuendo”, but only if you wanted to interpret it that way. I agree with the others. Type casting the “tea connoisseur” as a heavier older man and his “barista” as a handsome younger man. Can be found in everyday life, hmm?
There’s something offensive in everything for everyone. Bleh, just another reason for people to whine.
Hey! Julie is BACK!!!