“Women Belong In The Kitchen!” Burger King Flame Grilled For Tone Deaf Ad
A controversial headline designed to carry a positive message has exploded in Burger King’s face and set social media alight.
Yesterday – which also happened to be International Women’s Day – the burger giant ran a full-page ad in The New York Times with the headline “Women Belong in the Kitchen”.
However, it wasn’t as sexist as it sounds. The ad’s actual intention was far more noble and was promoting the company’s new scholarship program that aims to get more women into cheffing as a career.
The fine print to the ad, developed by its creative agency Miami David, read: “Only 24 per cent of chef positions in America are occupied by women. Want to talk head chefs? the number drops to fewer than seven per cent.”
If that wasn’t bad enough, when tweeted out on social, only the headline “women belong in the kitchen” got posted.
To its credit, the brand didn’t delete the tweet – despite being called out by rival KFC – and, instead, offered a hasty explanation.
The re-tweet has since generated 500,000 likes and people are now arguing if people are agreeing with the sexist sentiment or the more noble message it was intended.
Others argued the chain was deliberately using a sexist clickbait message to drive more social traffic.
One person tweeted: “The difference in likes between the first and the second tweet scares me.”
Another added: “Imagine if they ran out of 5G before they could send that second tweet, LOL.”
“Someone in the marketing department doesn’t understand Twitter very well,” added another.
Burger King responded that it would be foolish to delete a tweet “that’s drawing attention to a huge lack of female representation in our industry, we thought you’d be on board with this as well?”
In a follow-up statement, a company spokesperson said: “We are committed to helping women break through a male-dominated culinary culture in the world’s fine dining restaurants — and sometimes that requires drawing attention to the problem we’re trying to help fix.
“Our headline today was intentionally designed to draw attention to the unacceptable fact that only seven percent of head chefs in the U.S. are women. We understand that some are only reading the headline without our explanation, but we’re sure that when people read the entirety of our commitment, they will share our belief in this important opportunity.”
Please login with linkedin to comment
Burger KingLatest News
REVEALED: All The Finalists For The 2021 Snapchat Young Lions Competition
There's sure to be some tears with the reveal of the Young Lions competition. Even more so if you actually entered.
Congratulations To All Our 30 Under 30 Winners!
There is more talent in this 30 Under 30 winners list than a Manpower strip show at Panthers World Of Entertainment.
Leadership, Humanity, Technology – The Sweet Spot
The SingularityU Australia Executive Program will take place this may, celebrating leadership at the intersection of the values of humanity and the value of technology. The Elon Musks, Apples and Xeros of the world are taking risks for humanity and creating new technologies that streamline and beautify business operations. They simplify life by providing basic […]
OMD Alumnus Launches Specialist Media Agency For The Franchise Sector; TFM Digital
Brisbane media professional and former OMD Australia Account Director Taylor Fielding (pictured) has officially launched TFM Digital. TFM Digital is a specialist media agency based in Newstead which primarily provides media buying services, and strategy development, to businesses chiefly, but not exclusively, within the franchise sector. Prior to the launch of TFM Digital, Fielding spent […]
“Very Creepy”: ABC Forced To Apologise Over Navy Ship Twerking Video
This twerk video has divided the B&T office this morning. By that we mean "hilarious" to "absolutely f@cking hilarious".
Urth Teams Up With Croud To Drive International Growth
The Australian camera accessory brand, Urth, famed for their focus on sustainability, has appointed Croud as their new digital marketing partner, in order to power global and local growth.
VMG Digital And TreSensa Join Forces To Provide Best-Of-Breed Playable Ads
Leading mobile creative technology companies, VMG Digital and TreSensa Technologies, join forces to fuel best-of-breed playable Facebook Ads to help clients drive app installs.
Furphy Celebrates Tellers Of Tall Tales In New ‘Unearthing Unbelievable’ Brand Experience
Eight in ten Aussies (86%)* believe telling a furphy is a unique part of Australian culture, now Furphy is on a mission to celebrate the art of storytelling and uncover the nation’s best furphies.
Know A Standout Marketing Boss? Nominate Them For B&T’s CMO Power List!
B&T's on the hunt for Australia's top marketers! Sure, not as interesting as Australia's top yodellers or log rollers.
Winners! Frocks! Tears! Your Party Pictorial To Last Night’s 30 Under 30!
Judging by the hangovers in the B&T office today you can count yourself damn lucky we even managed this photo thingy.
Publicis Groupe Beats Q1 Expectations, As Aussie Ops Record “Dynamic Organic Growth”
B&T would've added sacre bleu to this Publicis headline, however, we have no idea what it means or how to spell it.
Canva Brings Instagram Scheduling To Canva Pro
Canva owners set to become even more obscenely billionairey after doing latest thing.
Getty Images Announces $US85,000 In Grants For Photojournalists
In this day & age of tech behemoths & media barons, it's nice to see the humble old photojournalist getting a look in.
How To Harness The Skills Of A Gen Y & Z workforce To Future-Proof Your Business
Look, it's top tips to harnessing your Gen Y and Z employees sans any Spanish Inquisition torture techniques.
FutureFeed Appoints Five By Five For Global Launch
Launch marketing specialists Five by Five Global have been appointed by FutureFeed to develop their brand, international certification trademark and go to market strategy. The innovative livestock feed ingredient developed by CSIRO, Meat and Livestock Australian and James Cook University uses a specific genus of seaweed, Asparagopsis, which significantly reduces methane emissions in ruminant livestock. […]
Clems Melbourne Announces 10 New Starters
Excellent hair clearly part of the recruitment process, as Clems Melbourne announces 10 new hirsute starters.
Thursday TV Wrap: Gogglebox Continues Rise While Seven Wins The Night
B&T hosted the 30 Under 30 awards last night AND is bringing you last night's telly numbers. Live the lies here.
SKMG’s Andrew Knowles Snares B&T’s 30 Under 30 For PR
Andrew Knowles, partner and co-founder of the corporate communications consultancy Shoebridge Knowles Media Group (SKMG), has won the PR category in the 2021 B&T 30 Under 30 Awards. Knowles received the award at a ceremony in Sydney last night, claiming victory in a highly competitive field that included leading executives from some of Australia’s biggest […]
WPP AUNZ Launches NextGen Leaders Program
WPP AUNZ says its nextgen leaders program isn't solely open to the company's crawlers and sycophants.
JCDecaux Launches Programmatic Offering & Announces Partnership With Adobe, Building A New Digital And Data Ecosystem
JCDecaux announces Adobe partnership. Which, admittedly, isn't as interesting as, say, a Dannii Minogue partnership.
VGood Launches ‘Undercover Healthy’ Creative Campaign
VGood is a "nut-free, chickpea based range of snacks". Absolutely perfect for boring everyone with your dietary habits.
Nova Boy Turns Up The Feel Good In A New National Marketing Campaign
To its credit, this NOVA pretty press photo totally debunks the "face for radio" adage.
Purpose-led PR And Digital Marketing Agency Compass Studio Wins New Clients B Lab Australia & New Zealand And Verve Super
Boutique PR and digital marketing agency Compass Studio announces a host of new clients this month including B Lab Australia & New Zealand and Verve Super.
LEGOLAND And Vision Australia Team Up For LEGO Braille Bricks
Vision Australia unveils LEGO Braille Bricks. B&T doubts it'll stop you treading on the painful little buggers, however.
The Trade Desk Kicks Off Beta Testing Of Unified ID 2.0 In Australia
For those not in the know, beta testing is a technological term for "we've got no effing idea if this is gonna work".
Einsteinz Communications Marks 20th Anniversary By Joining Global Tech PR Specialist Network, The With Global Alliance
Einsteinz Communications announced today it has joined the Global tech PR agency network, the With Global Alliance.
Yubo Chooses Ogilvy Social.Lab As Their New Agency
For the record, Yubo is a social platform & not to be mistaken with drunk NRL fans more commonly referred to as 'yobbo'.
Setapp Campaign Dives Into Viral Tech Stories
Super Simple Stories answers all the questions you never knew you had about technology innovations
AFL Names Therabody As Its Official Recovery Partner
The AFL is delighted to welcome Therabody as its Official Recovery Partner of the 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season. Therabody’s industry-leading devices and research will be integrated into pre-match training and post-match recovery routines to help prevent injuries and help improve overall athletic performance. Therabody will also become the naming partner for the end-of-season AFL […]
Seven Ramps Up Olympics Offering 100 Days Out From Tokyo
The off-again, on-again Olympics are back on again and just as half-a-million hotdog frankfurts reach their expiry date.
