Hardee’s at it again

By: American Decency Staff

Yup.  Hardees, indeed, is at it again.  I received this email. Just this evening, Feb. 29, 2012, as we were watching TV,  a Hardee's ad that was absolutely disgusting in its sexy content came across the TV screen at 9:30 PM, CST on NBC.  When I was looking for a place to send my disagreement for their choice, I noticed that you had fought a Hardees ad that bordered on pornography in 2009.  I wanted to make you aware of this again.  We live in Sioux Falls, SD. Thank you for your work. This current ad features the young 19 year old cover girl for this year’s Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition, Kate Upton.  You don’t need to go any further than a quick look at Hardee’s disgusting webpage (at their home address) to catch a glimpse of what is in store. Hardees current pornographic ad features Upton “advertisingâ€Â the Southwestern patty melt with an extremely erotic display focusing on sexualized movements, close up shots of cleavage, legs spread, etc. – all to titillate and entice.  Believe me when I say, this is arguably the most explicit, lewd ad I’ve ever seen. Click here to express your displeasure for this type of advertisement. Hardee’s entitles the ad “Some Like it Hotâ€Â and boastfully describe the ad this way:  “As you’ll see, both Kate and the Southwest Patty Melt deliver the heat in the ads.â€Â Pornography is defined by Webster’s as material created for the purposes of eliciting a sexual response.  Thus, the description of this ad as pornographic. Hardee's is a hamburger business catering to families.  I can’t see how in good conscience anyone reading this email alert can give business to Hardees (Carl Jr.)!  Period!! This current ad is an insult to anyone concerned about even a modicum of decency! In review ad infinitum: (1) 2003.  Hardee's (Carl's Jr.) featured Hugh Hefner as a poster celebrity. Despite numerous communications from numbers of you in late 2003, they obviously haven't been impacted (long term) by our expressions of concern nor that of other pro-decency organizations who also have shed light upon Hardee's pornographic advertising trends. (2) Hardee's also used an erotic ad featuring a mechanical bull and a scantily clad female. (3) In 2005, Hardee's used a pornographic ad featuring Paris Hilton. Exerting sleazy movements to market hamburgers at their "family" restaurants. (4) February 28,2006, A friend of this ministry notified us of yet another sexualized online Hardee's ad (also a television ad). The ad featured a very scantily clad erotic waitress and a young male leering at the waitresses body parts. The waitress, of course, moving provocatively as the camera focuses on her body parts. (5) June 12, 2007.  Hardees pornographic ad features a scantily clad blond rolling on the floor "advertising" patty melt featuring sexualized movements, eroticized chewing, the invitation to run your fingers through her hair, to touch her …. June 30, 2009. Though this time Hardees ad isn't visually explicit, the words and innuendo are loaded with sexual nuance.  It features their new "Biscuit holes." In one of several of their new ads, the announcer says:  "We are introducing a new item at Hardees called Biscuit Holes.  Can you think of a better name for them?" Then various customers individually name them using such verbiage as: b holes a holes Goody balls sweet balls tasty nuts dingle balls biscatles (as in testicles) Personal note: We personally have avoided Hardee's since 2003. This information further strengthens our view that Hardee's is not worthy of our purchasing dollars. Some of you will recall that the CEO, Mr. Andrew Puzder, was personally responding to our emails regarding the pressure that he was experiencing over their Paris Hilton ads. Try this email address below. pr@ckr.com 1. Call the Hardee's and Carl's Jr. consumer relations department at 1-877-799-STAR (7827). Tell them you've had enough and you won't be buying from Hardee's or Carl's Jr. until they stop their sexploitation. 2. Call the Independent Hardee's Franchise Association at 757-497-7297 (the guys who actually own the restaurants). Urge President Bryan Haas to demand that the Hardee's corporate office immediately pull this offensive commercial. 3. Send this email to as many of your friends as possible so we can start a real grassroots campaign to make a difference in the stronghold of disregard for family values. Contact CKE Restaurants.  Call and leave a voice message at: 1-877-799-STAR (7827) or 800-422-4141 (CKE owns Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Green Burrito, and Red Burrito restaurant brands) CKE RESTAURANTS, INC. Andrew Puzder, CEO and President 6307 Carpinteria Avenue, Suite A Carpinteria, CA 93013 Toll Free: 800-422-4141 Email: pr@ckr.com Email: ir@ckr.com Online feedback form: http://www.ckr.com/contact.html HARDEE’S FRANCHISE CORPORATE OFFICE Hardee's Food Systems, Inc. 100 North Broadway, Suite 1200 St. Louis, MO 63102 Phone: 314-259-6200 Fax: 314-621-1778 Toll Free: 800-711-4274 Andrew Puzder – CEO Brad Haley, executive vice president of marketing for Hardee’s Food Systems Email: bhaley@ckr.com Email: publicreldept@hardees.com Andrew F. Puzder – Chief Executive Officer, CKE Restaurants, Inc. pr@ckr.com ========================================================== American Decency Association Bill Johnson, President P.O. Box 202 Fremont, MI 49412 ph: 231-924-4050 www.americandecency.org To support our efforts please click here or mail your gift to American Decency Association (ADA), PO Box 202, Fremont, MI 49412. American Decency Association is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

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