I don't even know what to say to this.

i failed to see how this was offensive

athletes wear flags all the time.
and it was one wrestler in a mexican themed costume. because he was mexican, and it was relevent to his character.

Inspired by "Nacho Libre" ? Neither this ad, nor Nacho Libre were that funny. Still, I think Mexico is being a little overly sensitive and more people will have seen this ad thanks to the free publicity than they ever would have if Mexico had not made such a stink. Oy, those Spicy Mexicans... =)

Doesn't this also exploit the outdated myth of all American's being like gay cowboys?

Whatever. This is silly. The commercial is cute. If only Burger King's food wasn't awful.

@panzerschreck1: Seconded. I had no idea I was supposed to be offended by this.

@panzerschreck1: Not to mention the American stereotype standing right next to him.

Not offensive, and actually somewhat based on fact.

Average White American height (because the cowboy is white): 5' 10.4"
Average Mexican height: 5' 5.7"
[en.wikipedia.org]

Almost 5 inches difference.

Yawn.

Just what we need...the US embassy opining on a European Burger King commercial. Geez.

Wow it's rey mysterio. NO he doesn't count as an example

@Michael Monaco:

The commercial seems to be making fun of both sides equally.

It's not that funny, but the tone really isn't insulting, either. It's mostly just sort of "meh".

For really creepy BK commercials, we're going to have to dial it back to the Darius Rucker "Big Rock Candy Mountain" debacle.

The cowboy-clad Hootie still haunts my dreams:

I didn't find it to be offensive. I find Burger King commericals to usually be pretty funny. Anyone seen the commercial for the new spongebob happy meal? Box-butted women dance as a rapper announces that:

"Coming through the seaweed tangles,
Is a butt with sharp right angles."

I got a chuckle out of it.

@Mike8813:

People are pissed off about that one too.

[blogs.orlandosentinel.com]

@Alice Arrington Radley: Thanks for the link. I guess some people are just allergic to fun.

@Mike8813:

Word.

@Davezter: Underneath the man you find... his nucleus.

@Mike8813: I think it's great that they got Sir Mix-a-lot to do the commercial...but anywho, people are offended by pretty much anything...

Apparently it's not this particular television ad that sparked the whole thing, but BK's print campaign in Spain (that falls mainly on the plain..?)

In this commercial, the "Mexican" isn't actually wearing a proper flag, but in the print ad, he most definitely is: [www2.esmas.com] which seems to be what the ambassador had the most problems with. And according to this, [www.elsiglodetorreon.com.mx] BK just today agreed to change the campaign and will:

focus only on the Texican Whopper, without using characters or the Mexican flag

It's got a "little Mexican" flavor. That's the joke. Man, even puns aren't PC anymore? Ugh.

Yawn. This could've been WAY more offensive. And funnier. Both were charicatures. I'm craving a spicy chicken sandwich for some reason...

@marsneedsrabbits: Yeah I didn't really find it that grossly offensive.. I don't think it's funny either. BK has a tendency to lean on really simplistic stereotypes and it's just very... 80's standup comic.

"women and effeminate men eat salads! real men eat BEEF! HAA! gender differences are funny!"

yawn.

Ok, for all the people who say "i didn't find it offensive," which of you are actually Mexican or Hispanic?

Am I personally offended by this commercial? Well no. But i'm neither Texan nor Mexican. not white either, but that's not the point.

But I could see how a not insubstantial number of people could get offended over this.

IIRC, Burger King's last ad for Breakfast Shots featured an "American" farmer who was a "little person". Didn't hear nary a complaint.

So now they make a commercial featuring a Luchador dressed not in a "poncho", but a mask and a separate cape which has the same color as a Mexican flag, but is not due it missing the "coat of arms" in the center. They also show a "cowboy" who has a horse and dressed out in the traditional garb of someone who participates in rodeo. Both are champions/winners in their sports, judging by the trophies and the fan appeal. It's tough for two people to live together, as many sitcoms show. But two people, who are from different backgrounds and have different interests are shown in this commercial to be getting along. What is wrong with people getting along?

Not to defend Burger King since I find most of their ads to be unfunny, but the Mexican wrestler is probably of diminutive stature because he is a little person, not just because of his race. His wrestling nickname is "El Cachito" which is recognizing the fact that he is small regardless of race. "Cacho" loosely translates to something like "little piece," and "Cachito" is the diminutive of that.

@Mike8813:

@Aristeia:

Well, I live in Texas and I couldn't give a shit. I'm not Mexican, but if there really are Mexican's who have the time to be offended by this, they need to get a life. There is massive poverty and rampant drug violence in Mexico. Then there is this little commercial. Guess which or those two things a rational person would find more offensive?

My point is that this is superficial shit to distract people from actual problem. If this is the worst thing that happens in a Mexican persons day, it's a great fucking day.

@panzerschreck1: I agree. The ad wasn't implying that Mexicans are shorter than Americans, the Mexican is short because the Whopper has "a little spicy Mexican" flavor.

It may not be at all funny, but it's not offensive, either. And I'm Mexican. People are too easily offended.

As an aside, are they putting a spicy chicken patty on a Whopper? Why not just take the next logical step and blend a whopper, fries and coke together and serve it in a beer bong? Our nation is so fat.

@cjones27: It actually has nothing to do with fact. The tagline is "The taste of Texas with a little spicy Mexican." That's exactly what you are seeing. The cowboy doesn't represent all Americans. He represents Texas, which is a typical cowboy place. The Mexican is a little Mexican. This gets put together to represent the tagline: "The taste of Texas with a little spicy Mexican." Nothing racist, ignorant, or purposely offensive about it. They just went with an attempted humorous visual of the tagline.

@MisterE87:

It gets worse, it's not even a chicken patty. It's a patty of chile con carne, coated with taco shell crumbs and then deep fried.

See, this is definitely not the route I'd have gone. If I were shooting this commericial, I'd have "The King" burst into the executive board room of some rival fast food company. With him would be a cadre of heavily armed men. Then, they would force the execs to their knees, then shoot each one in the back of the head. After that, their bodies would be dumped in the parking lot of one of their stores as a warning to other fast food rivals:
"The King rules around here!"

Now that would be an accurate portrayal of Mexico.

@Michael Monaco:

Is being short a Mexican stereotype? If so I've never heard of it. Why should Mexicans be angry any more than say short people in general? Can't *anyone* take a joke any more?

Do Mexican officials give a rip about the drug lords in their country or just some silly TV ad? Nice priorities down south.

@Aristeia: I'm Mexican (actually, I'm American since I was born in the states, Mom's from Mexico though) and while I find this commercial stupid, it's not offensive. I actually think Speedy Gonzalez and the old Frito Bandito were a lot more demeaning.

@RanChan03: Rey Rey is from San Diego, but that was my first thought, too.

@cjones27: I think that speaks to the fact that as much as we complain about the crap we eat in the US, it is much harder to get adequate nutrition in Mexico.

But, Mexican's _are_ short.

I think that Mexican officials should maybe spend time about the out of control drug lords instead of this.

I thought the commercial was just lame.

it would've been more accurate if the mexican was a fearsome narco-soldier.

@Davezter: What are you talking about? Nacho Libre cracks me up!

It might help to be extremely tired, though...

@panzerschreck1: I missed the flag, where was it?

Hey Lucy, could you please show me a pair of reasonably authentic chaps that cover the butt? I don't recall ever seeing any.

@rockasocky: It's easier to get nutrition in Mexico. No one's starving, and better yet, they're not overweight like we are. Basic food has price controls, and is within the budget of a minimum wage worker. One of the biggest nutrition concerns is mothers who give their kids Coca Cola instead of milk. You do start seeing obesity in poor areas (uneducated) where McDonald's and other American fast food is easily available. Mexico has a crap-load of other problems, but adequate (not splendid) nutrition isn't one of them.

My wife is Mexican, as in from Mexico Mexican (not fake 3d generation Mexican American). She's not offended, although she thinks that the use of the Mexican flag in the commercial would be illegal (no free speech there, although it's gotten better since Fox/Calderon).

@balthisar: Obesity problems < drug cartels

@cjones27: Statements of Mexican ambassador to Spain ≠ Priorities of entire Mexican government.

I don't know about this, but BK's recent commercial for their Kid'd Meal with Spongebob seems a little too much being mixed with "I like big butts and I cannot lie...".

I mean, it's meant for kids and it has young women in short-shorts shaking their ass in the camera.

@MisterE87:
An obvious response to the McGangbang.

Also there is nothing remotely offensive in this video. Illogical maybe, but nothing offensive.

@veg-o-matic: Correct.

In Mexico, such an use of the flag would get you in trouble with the authorities.

The symbols are to be very respected. Culturally, this is a very different phenomenon from the US. Mexican Flag Undies wouldn't fly at all.

So yes, the ad is officially offensive to the mexican government and culture. However, I don't see what's the huge deal - it's not like lawsuits or boycotts are being threatened, it's just a request by Ambassador Zermeño based on offcial sensitivities of the government.