Letters to Burger King regarding their condom ad referral —

By: American Decency Staff

I remember several years ago when Greg Brenneman was the CEO of Burger King. He was noted for his great leadership abilities and for being a Christian. For a period of time, Burger King was clearly not placing its advertisements on trashy shows and their ads were tasteful. However, little by little they faltered to advertising raunchy on Fox Shows like – "American Dad", "Family Guy", the "War at Home", etc. It is for these reasons that I personally in good conscience don't do business with Burger King. The Burger King ad discussed below nearly confirms my decision. [We provide contact information below.] Letters to Burger King regarding their condom ad referral — #1: What a stupid ad! It isn't even funny. How you folks think innuendo about condoms will sell burgers is beyond me! Thanks for reminding me why I drive right past and NEVER go to a Burger King anymore! What a waste! It sure is a long ways from the clever "were's the beef ad". You need a new ad agency. Your current agency is stealing your money (but not mine any more)! S.E. Bluewater Bay, Florida #2: Dear Mr. Chidsey, Waking up in bed with "the king" was one thing, but the newest Burger King ad showing the Daddy Whopper telling the son Jr. Whopper to "take and extra napkin and put it in your pocket" because now that he's on the dollar menu, he'll be meeting a lot of girls is crossing the line of decency. Sexual innuendos are absolutely not needed to sell your burgers and fries; if your research shows differently, then that's where we part ways, because as long as you persist in going down that road, our family and Burger King will part ways- we will not buy your products. Sincerely, M.H. Whittier, CA #3: Dear Mr. John W. Chidsey – CEO Burger King Holdings, Inc.: As a parent, I am appalled that you allow your corporation to stoop so low as to use a reference to condom use in one of your commercials. What's next, "Where's the beef" turned into some woman putting her hand down some man's pants? There are so many other avenues that could be used to advertise your products that references to a Dad talking to his son and assuming he is going to have unmarried underage sex and handing him a condom are totally unnecessary. There is no need for Burger King to do this and contribute further to the immorality taking over our pop culture. I will no longer be patronizing the Burger King off of Saron Drive and Tates Creek Road in Lexington, KY or the one on Clays Mill Road either. You can pass that on if you wish. Sincerely yours in the Liberty only Christ provides, J.S. Lexington, KY #4: Dear Sir, The concept of the Whopper as dad and Whopper Jr. as son is a cute one and lends itself to some very funny advertisement. However, one of your latest commercials is not one I think represents Burger King or the American populace well. I'm referring to the dialogue between Whopper (Dad) and Whopper, Jr. (Son) where the dad tells the son that he is going to meet a lot of girls by being on the dollar menu. He then proceeds to hand the son a napkin and tells him "to keep this in your wallet." The obvious reference is to keeping a condom in one's wallet for protection. This, to me, is a real problem. With the problems we have with promiscuous behavior among children and teenagers today this ad just adds fuel to the fire. This shows not only bad taste but a real disregard for moral decency. Please, use humor to sell your products, but don't add raunch and titillation to the mix. If the ad agencies you use can't come up with commercial content that is rated for a general audience then maybe its time to find another company. Burger King has always represented a wholesome company with the family as its core business approach. A commercial like this one is pushing you away from what a family approach should be when it comes to selling your product. While this latest ad is much less offensive than the Hardee's ads with the scantilly clad girls riding mechanical bulls it does seem to be pushing BK into trying to "buy" the adult business and not family business. I don't have a problem with advertisers trying new approaches to sell product. However, stick to funny and creative and get away from sexual inuendo and adult themes. You are a family company and need to gear your advertising towards selling to families and not promoting sex education. A customer in Tupelo, MS. D.H. #5: Your ad about the Whopper giving Junior a napkin is repulsive on many levels. Primarily, by making light of a father giving a child a condom, you are attempting to normalize the premise that it is ok for a parent to encourage a male child to have sex with a girl. In our house we have three teenagers and we openly discuss that they need to keep their pants zipped and preserve the sanctity of sex for their marriage partner. An ad like this, making light of what I'm sure you feel is a puritanical position is not something that we as a family feel is acceptable. Therefore, we will not patronize Burger King or any of your other extended holdings from this day forward. Many of the issues that cause societal decay in this country (Aids, Abortion, Gangs, Drugs, etc) are offshoots of promiscuous sex among teenagers which leads to children raising children before they are raised themselves. I would like to know if that is something that you find funny or entertaining? Sincerely, B.O. Columbia, TN Contact: Contact Burger King: Burger King Holdings, Inc. John W. Chidsey – CEO 5505 Blue Lagoon Drive Miami FL 33126 Phone: 305-378-3000 Fax: 305-378-7262 Email: jchidsey@whopper.com ===================================== Match Grant challenge. We received this gracious offer from an anonymous donor. "… I would like to again offer a $15,000 matching grant to anyone who hasn't given since 12/31/05 or to anyone who gives more than what they gave in 2006 (e.g. if they gave $1,000 in '06 and gave $1500 in '07, we will match the $500 increase as long as it was given between 9/10/07-12/31/07). We will match these gifts received from 9/10/07 through 12/31/07." Help us meet this challenge early. Thanks – https://secure4.afo.net/ada/main.php?f=donate/display9 American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org

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