It is the lamb advertisement that has everyone talking that stars ex-footballer Sam Kekovich. After just a few days on-air the ads that were meant to by funny have been labeled offensive.
"I'm sickened by the creeping tide of un-Australianism eroding our great traditions."
No, it is not a pitch for Pauline Hanson's next run for parliament, nor a cry heard at your local RSL. It is an excerpt from a new television commercial for Meat and Livestock Australia (MLA) which features ex-footballer and broadcaster Sam Kekovich.
Mr Kekovich is not known for holding back, even when he is trying to entice us to eat more lamb.
"Your long haired, dole bludging types are indulging their pierced tastebuds in all manner of exotic, foreign and often vegetarian cuisine," said Mr Kekovich in the ad that first aired in early January 2005, which is a promotion geared towards putting lamb on every table on Australia Day.
It is rude and belligerent and it has offended many Aussies. But it is just an ad, doing exactly what it is designed to do: grab your attention.
Mr Kekovich's spruiking on behalf of MLA has prompted a flood of complaints to the Advertising Standards Bureau.
"I think there will be alot of people who will be offended because vegetarians cover a broad spectrum of society now, from left or right wing - doesn't really matter," said Mark Berriman, of the Australian Vegetarian Society.
Mr Berriman is calling for a silencing of the lamb ads. This time, he said, Mr Kekovich and Meat and Livestock Australia have gone too far.
According to marketing manager of Meat and Livestock, David Thomason however, advertising is about exposure. In just two days their latest campaign has caused a national debate which is publicity you simply can not buy. "I don't believe that we have offended vegetarians any more than we've offended chicken eaters or pizza eaters or any other food," Mr Thomason said.
In response to the complaints, the Advertising Standards Bureau is reviewing the ads today.
Haven't seen the ad yet? Click HereOr Here and scroll down to watch video.
I love this ad, it's hilarious. I am trying to find the script to post it because I can't gurantee that either of those links to the video will work properly if you want to see it.
It's not overly offensive, it calls vegatarians, tree hugging hippies and things like that, but it's meant as a joke, and if the vegetarians take it too personally, then they're morons anyway.
01-19-2005 08:52 AM
