15785: An Historic Day Of Judgment(s).

 

Such a missed opportunity that no one thought to ask new U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson to draft an opinion on the Will Smith sentencing.

 

15773: Bad Apples & Poor Apple TV+…

 

Adweek published a lengthy report titled, “Will Smith Slapping Chris Rock Overshadows Apple TV+’s Historic Oscar Win,” whining about how the Apple TV+ streaming breakthrough was upstaged by the Smith + Rock screaming brouhaha. Ironically, the Adweek report also spent more screen space on the TKO versus CODA. Poor Apple TV+ was denied its monumental moment. Oh, the humanity! Heaven forbid anyone should feel slighted that proper respect was not awarded to the fifth Best Actor Oscar in history going to a Black man.

15772: Will Smith v Chris Rock, Round Zillion.

 

There is already plenty of commentary regarding Will Smith smacking Chris Rock at the Academy Awards show—including discussions about race-based inequities and gender-based insults—but here’s one more.

 

The New York Post wondered if Smith could lose his Oscar should the Academy enforce its 2017 code of conduct that “emphasizes the importance of ‘upholding the Academy’s values,’ like inclusion, fostering supportive environments, and ‘respect for human dignity.’”

 

The Post story stated that when the code of conduct was issued, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences CEO Dawn Hudson wrote, “There is no place in the Academy for people who abuse their status, power or influence in a manner that violates recognized standards of decency. The Academy is categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, disability, age, religion, or nationality. The Board of Governors believes that these standards are essential to the Academy’s mission and reflective of our values.”

 

Indeed, the Academy was quick declare that it “does not condone violence of any form” after the Smith-Rock altercation. 

 

The scenario poses a diversity-related dilemma for sure. After all, if Smith were reprimanded for his violent outburst, could Rock also be subject to disciplinary action for his joke? As has been reported, the recipient of the off-color remark—Jada Pinkett Smith—is affected by alopecia, an autoimmune disease. In short, Rock’s “G.I. Jane” joke could be deemed as publicly shaming a person with a disability. That’s grounds for dismissal in most professional settings.

 

The incident definitely presented opportunities for a variety of teachable moments. And it underscores the need for forgiveness across the board. In the words of Marvin Gaye:

 

Father, father

We don't need to escalate

You see, war is not the answer

For only love can conquer hate

11298: Ignorant Annie The Chicken Queen.

Advertising Age reported Popeyes has launched Chicken Waffle Tenders. The introductory commercial features Annie the Chicken Queen proclaiming, “You know what’s hot in the food world? Waffles and Southern fried chicken on the same plate.” Huh? Will Smith praised Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles when he was still playing the Fresh Prince—but the Queen is only hearing about it now?

Popeyes Launches Chicken and Waffles Tenders

Limited-time Offer Is a Departure From the Brand’s Louisiana Roots

By Maureen Morrison

One of Popeyes’ biggest product launches this year drew its inspiration from the West Coast—a departure for the chain that likes to tout its Louisiana roots.

The limited-time Chicken Waffle Tenders—boneless chicken strips with a waffle batter, served with a honey maple dipping sauce—were inspired by the dietary habits of jazz musicians in Los Angeles during 1940s and 50s.

Dick Lynch, chief global brand officer at Popeyes, explained that players finished so late that if they wanted a meal, restaurants and diners would still have fried chicken available while prepping waffle batter. The combination of chicken and waffles has tough-to-trace origins, but this part of its history resonated with Popeyes. And the pairing is apparently experiencing a revival.

“Chicken and waffles is an incredibly trendy, popular and kind of unexpected [product] right now,” Mr. Lynch said.

A campaign supporting the product launches July 29 and will include TV work by Popeyes’ agency GSD&M, as well as a digital effort by Campbell Mithun that includes video of the chain’s food truck offering the new product, and customer reactions. Mr. Lynch said food trucks, which are trendy in their own right, are common places to find chicken and waffles.

The new item is off-brand for Popeyes because its origins are not traced back to New Orleans or Louisiana. But Mr. Lynch said it isn’t straying that far from its tradition. “Jazz is so embedded in the culture of New Orleans that we didn’t have to look too hard to find” a connection. “We’re looking to real culinary trends, no matter where they came from. The odder the better, frankly.”

The product is the first in what will be a series of limited-time “flavor proliferations” of the chicken tenders the chain introduced last year. Mr. Lynch declined to name future offshoots, but said the success of the chicken tender waffles will help determine how many there will be.

The product gives Popeyes something that no other large chain is offering. “It just adds variety to Popeyes menu, and it’s unique, which gives them a story to tell above and beyond what everyone else does,” said restaurant marketing consultant Joel Cohen. “Whenever you have an opportunity to be the only one, it makes your message rise above the clutter.”

Business has been good for Popeyes in recent years. The chain’s U.S. sales increased 14.4% in 2012 to just over $2 billion, according to Technomic. It’s the third-largest chicken chain in the U.S. with 10.9% market share, trailing only KFC and Chick-Fil-A.

Popeyes spent about $54.9 million on U.S. measured media in 2012, according to Kantar Media.

9473: The Fresh Prince Of Famous Footwear.

Advertising Age reported Y&R Chicago landed the Famous Footwear account after a review with Famous Footwear Senior VP-Retail Marketing Will Smith. Will Smith?! Damn, first the rumors about his breakup with Jada Pinkett Smith. Now the Hollywood superstar is working for Famous Footwear?

5154: Say What?

Offensive remarks in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Will Smith wound up suing and beating an entertainment newswire service in London for creating the drama surrounding remarks the star made in reference to Adolf Hitler. The newswire service apologized and paid an undisclosed amount of money to be donated to a charity. After the mess originally broke, the newswire service had retracted the story and issued a correction and apology; however, Smith’s lawyer argued no one picked up the responses. A lawyer for the newswire service said, “[The newswire service] offers its apologies to [Smith] for any distress and embarrassment caused by this article. [It] accepts that the allegations concerning [him] were misleading and published in error.” Maybe Smith was actually discussing Hitch, not Hitler.

• IKEA is taking heat from Denmark, as officials are accusing the furniture company of naming products of lesser value with Danish titles. “It seems to be an example of cultural imperialism,” noted a Danish scholar. “IKEA has chosen the objects with the lowest value and given them Danish names.” IKEA officials are probably tossing Denmark’s complaints into a cheap Danish waste bucket.

• Lowe’s is pulling its advertising from CBS reality series Big Brother after a contestant referred to people with autism as “retards.” CBS issued the stereotypical disclaimer that read, “Big Brother is a reality show about watching a group of people who have no privacy 24/7 -- and seeing every moment of their lives. At times, the Houseguests reveal prejudices and other beliefs that we do not condone. Any views or opinions expressed in personal commentary by a Houseguest appearing on Big Brother, either on any live feed from the House or the broadcast, are those of the individual(s) speaking and do not represent the views or opinions of CBS or the producers of the program.” Now that’s a pretty retarded response.

Essay 4903

Evading controversy with a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Wesley Snipes’ tax-evasion trial will take place next month in Ocala, despite the actor’s attempts to evade the Florida city. Snipes and his lawyers argued racism would prevent a fair trial, while federal prosecutors previously stated the arguments had “no basis in reality.” You be the judge. (Thanks to Jetpacks for the Ocala story.)

• At least one Jewish group is backing off from criticizing Will Smith for his Hitler remark (see Essay 4892). The national director of the US Anti-Defamation League said, “We welcome and accept Will Smith’s statement that Hitler was a ‘vicious killer’ and that he did not mean for his remarks about the Nazi leader to be mistaken as praise.” It’s just as well, given that the boycott of Smith’s latest flick doesn’t appear to be working.

Essay 4892

Goodwill and cheer in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Will Smith sparked controversy by referring to Hitler during an interview. Smith was explaining his belief that everyone is basically good and said, “Even Hitler didn’t wake up going, ‘Let me do the most evil thing I can do today.’ … I think he woke up in the morning and using a twisted, backwards logic, he set out to do what he thought was ‘good.’ … Stuff like that just needs reprogramming.” The Jewish Defense League believes the actor labeled Hitler as “good,” and the group called for a boycott of Smith’s latest flick. Celebrity gossip Web sites also posted criticism for Smith. However, the actor was quick to angrily respond. “It is an awful and disgusting lie,” said Smith in a statement. “It speaks to the dangerous power of an ignorant person with a pen. I am incensed and infuriated to have to respond to such ludicrous misinterpretation. … Adolf Hitler was a vile, heinous vicious killer responsible for one of the greatest acts of evil committed on this planet.” Hitler is also known as a “comedy killer,” as Smith unfortunately discovered.

• Rev. Al Sharpton received a holiday gift from federal authorities—a three-week extension to provide financial paperwork for a mysterious investigation (see Essay 4837). Note to Sharpton: Avoid referring to federal authorities as Nazi-like.

• Jay-Z announced he’ll step down from his role as president of Def Jam Records. “It’s time for me to take on new challenges,” said Jay-Z in a written statement. “I am pleased to have had the opportunity to build upon the Def Jam legacy, helping to move the company into a new era of artistic success.” Jay-Z is rumored to be plotting an advertising-related venture with Steve Stoute. Wish these guys could create ads as good as Jay-Z’s music.

• A new study shows parents may be in denial over their kids’ obesity issues. One expert speculated the study indicates parents falsely think kids will outgrow obesity. Or maybe the parents aren’t noticing the problem because they’re too busy stuffing their own faces. Pass the Christmas turkey and gravy!