171 reactions

• (1)
  Jeff • Monday, July 7 2008 at 3:24 pm

  I want to mention the CREEPY look on the OTHER pickle!!!
  …the one that is about to CLEARLY enjoy WATCHING the anal cavity probe by the burly pickle.

  That’s even worse to me. The burly pickle is just doing his job and he may even be upset that he has to do this to the onion (or any vegetable) but the OTHER pickle with the creepy pedophile look on his face….eeek!

• (2)
  NW Guy • Monday, July 7 2008 at 8:20 pm

  I’m truly amazed to see this. I clicked on a few of the other ads and they are just as offensive. You really saw this at a local franchise? My guess is that they will soon be collectors items as they get pulled from production.

  And people thought that Carl’s Jrs ads went over the line??

• (3)
  Barchbo • Monday, July 7 2008 at 11:52 pm

  Ewww.

• (4)
  BIG Kahuna • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 3:00 am

  Have you seen their latest TV ad with the mini burgers and the girls wanting to “pet” them?

  Burger King has and will always be good at not knowing what their own brand identity is….cause they don’t have one!

• (5)
  Cathi • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 3:59 am

  Oh my gosh!!!
  That is absolutely horrible.
  I’m going to inform Burger King that I am boycotting their restaurant!
  I wouldn’t let my grandchildren see anything like this.
  Thanks for the heads up.

• (6)
  Jeff Crites • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 4:11 am

  Wow, and not in a good way. A gutter ball by BK. The Red Light District ad was just as bad. Imagine McDonalds or Wendy’s trying this. Would never happen. I noticed the ads were produced in November 2007. Isn’t CPB BK’s main agency? Would Crispin have subcontracted these to the German group?

• (7)
  Paul • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 4:12 am

  Jeff Crites… My guess is that this is an execution done for the European Burger King market so they used a “local” agency for the creative.

  I haven’t found any information indicating that these are being used in the U.S. market.

  Has anyone seen them in the U.S.?

  Thanks for your reaction, Jeff.

• (8)
  Marshall Kirkpatrick • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 4:15 am

  What’s Village People got to do with it? You think there’s an implied statement that homosexual singers are sadistic? Was that what BK was implying or what you were implying? Just curious. That is a wacked out ad.

• (9)
  Paul • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 4:16 am

  Marshall… Thanks for commenting. My reference to The Village People is simply pointing out the resemblance of Inspector Pickle and the Village People “biker” character.

  

• (10)
  Kelly • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 5:12 am

  Paul,

  Oh. My. Goodness.

  I was waiting to get to the end, where you would tell me that this is your idea of April Fools and you got the month wrong, and I would think you’ve gone off your rocker.

  I can’t believe this. Kids eat at BK!

  Maybe I lead a sheltered life… no, on second thought, I don’t… I have never seen anything so crass by a company where children are a prime target market. It’s just hideous.

  WOW. Thanks for writing about it, and thanks for not having gone off your rocker.

  Regards,

  Kelly

• (11)
  Angela Smith • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 1:30 am

  WOW. Simply WOW. I would be MORTIFIED if my kids happened to see this. Red Light District is worse, although the others are just as bad as this one.

• (12)
  Jim • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 7:45 am

  That is awesome. There’s an advertising archive site (here) with some of the other advertisements like “Onions taken out on request” and “Have it your way.”

• (13)
  Pickles_008 • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 11:11 am

  The things your children can see on television are far worse than any drawn vegetables(!) could ever be.

  Just my two cents.

• (14)
  Josh Chambers • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 2:32 pm

  Geez…that’s classless — not that anyone has accused BK of having class in the first place. I’ve been frustrated with BK ever since living in Honduras and seeing them involved in massive lawsuits as they fired employees without pay on a regular basis. So, I suppose an unethical ad campaign shouldn’t be surprising.

• (15)
  jimvoorhies.com » Having it your way to the extreme • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 3:41 pm

  [...] and the security pickle is slipping on a rubber glove, preparing to do a cavity search, and as this post shows, he looks just like the Village People [...]

• (16)
  innovation’s first ingredient » Blog Archive » What the hell is Burger King thinking? • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 5:04 pm

  [...] Over at the Idea Sandbox blog, Paul Williams breaks down the perverted oddities in this Burger King promotional liner that he came across at an airport. Really, this is just odd. Look at the rubber glove-wearing Pickle and the pants-down Onion. Now read Paul’s breakdown. [...]

• (17)
  Gunner • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 5:28 pm

  Frankly, I find this interesting and not as offensive as the rest of you puritans. The 6:00 news contains far worse imagery and content that this does and it any of you take a look at some of the programming TV creates for our children, the sexual and social undertones of this piece is relatively minor.

  What I do find offensive is the food BK serves along with its high fat, high sugar content that ads to the poor health and obesity that plagues the country. You think this piece is inconsistent with their brand? I disagree. I think it’s actually totally consistent with the rest of the trash they serve.

  I’m actually shocked that it took this whimsically comical portrayal of vegetables to cause some of you to boycott BK when all along you have been stuffing yourself with the poor excuse for food they serve.

• (18)
  Salam Kitmitto • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 5:34 pm

  Considering BK’s branding strategy has always been to imitate McD. (when McD. began to position itself as a place for children by adding the children playgrounds and kids menu, BK did the same; when McD. added the chicken nuggets and breakfast, BK did the same), I’m a little surprised that they would finally decide to differentiate their brand by adopting this strategy of all things.

  I really don’t understand what they are trying to do here. How can you have children’s playground in your stores and a (supposedly) lovable Burger King mascot but then in you advertising make these kinds of sexual innuendos (“Playveg” Magazine, “Green and Horny” Magazine). No wonder this company has gone through what 10 CEO’s in the past 15 years, 6 Marketing Managers, and god knows how many advertising agencies.

• (19)
  George Gelakis • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 7:58 pm

  OMG, I’m boycotting BK because an onion is being strip searched by a pickle! C’mon people….lighten up!!!! I think BK’s adds are hilarious, original, refreshing and, dare I say, C-O-N-V-E-R-S-A-T-I-O-N provoking. Hmmmmm… Sounds like the elements of a good ad. Who cares if the ad is “understood” or not, it will be remembered.

• (20)
  Gunner • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 8:06 pm

  Exactly. Lighten up. If you eat this crap, why be bothered by an ad?

• (21)
  Pickles_008 • Tuesday, July 8 2008 at 11:09 pm

  Search youtube for “veg city”

  … you’ll be sho-o-o-cked!

• (22)
  Liz • Wednesday, July 9 2008 at 4:55 pm

  As funny as this is, I seriously doubt its factual. But great story! It made me laugh!

• (23)
  Gherkinator • Friday, July 11 2008 at 12:27 pm

  Perhaps it’s an American thing? To these European eyeballs, the ads seem a bit puerile but a very long way from shocking. (I’ve never quite understood what exactly people are so shocked about, or what harm exactly they think happens if Things Like This aren’t stopped. Scratch that: I’ve never even slightly understood.)

  As someone commented upstream, there’s plenty to get upset about with fast food empires – but drawing a rubber glove and breasts on cartoon vegetables ain’t it.

• (24)
  Gunner • Friday, July 11 2008 at 7:06 pm

  Gherkinator,

  I agree Gherk but then again, what do you expect from a culture that nourishes itself on mass produced burgers and sugar drenched soda pop.

• (25)
  Burger King is kinky... - Gigposters.com • Friday, July 11 2008 at 9:33 pm

  [...] King is kinky… crazy BK tray liner… don’t know if it’s real or not… What Is Burger King Thinking? __________________ Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful, Hate me because I’m an asshole! [...]

• (26)
  Segue • Saturday, July 12 2008 at 12:32 am

  I suspect that Burger King didn’t notice they had hired a mischievious artist to do their ad campaign. It’s definitely twisted and kind of funny. I mean, this IS the attitude of Airport Security, you know? it’s just that it snuck into our awareness via a burger king ad campaign. Clever artist; that’s all I can say. BK may never hear the end of this…

• (27)
  Tigerjag • Saturday, July 12 2008 at 4:24 am

  Relax, this is a European ad. Precious American children won’t be exposed to these placemats, so no need to avoid BK on that count.

  I live in Texas. I boycot them because I don’t like their food.

• (28)
  Tyler Colt • Saturday, July 12 2008 at 10:06 pm

  You forgot to mention the bottle of BOTOX in his suitcase…

• (29)
  Tyler Colt • Saturday, July 12 2008 at 10:13 pm

  You know why I think this is B.S. Because I clearly remember looking closely at a Burger King Paper Tray Liner and noticing that you can hardly make out what is written. There is no way, EVER that they would print something of such quality that you could actually make out text of that size.

  You sir, are a liar.

• (30)
  I can’t improve on this one « …still spitting… • Saturday, July 12 2008 at 11:22 pm

  [...] What is Burger King thinking?   [...]

• (31)
  Tigerjag • Sunday, July 13 2008 at 8:04 pm

  I think it’s interesting that people read the blog and react immediately, without reading any other comments.

  It’s an ad being used in Europe, folks. Not the US.

• (32)
  Tyler • Sunday, July 13 2008 at 8:50 pm

  So because this is in europe, we are supposed to believe that they are so sophistocated that they are going to use higher quality printing on their tray liners?

  Look at that quality, that’s ridiculous…

• (33)
  Red Links 14/07/08 : Alexia Golez • Monday, July 14 2008 at 6:18 am

  [...] insane Airport adwork for Burger King’s ‘Veg City’ [...]

• (34)
  James Seay • Monday, July 14 2008 at 1:41 pm

  The BK brand is seriously in whack. They are known for being wild, crazy, and maybe memorable. The brand, however, fails to deliver any type of value. Unlike the competitor, McDonalds, why would you ever go to Burger King?

• (35)
  Paul • Monday, July 14 2008 at 8:23 am

  Tyler… While this could seem a hoax, I wouldn’t lie to you. Yes the quality of the artwork is clean because I used what I found on the Ads of the World website because it was nicer looking…

  CLICK HERE to view a scan the actual tray liner I took from the Burger King at the airport on Sunday, July 6th.

  Honest!

• (36)
  Pickles_008 • Monday, July 14 2008 at 3:30 pm

  Because it tastes better.

  But back to topic: I think what most commentators here forget or more likely don’t know is that BK in Germany is not the kid-friendly restaurant like in the U.S.

  McDonald’s is instead. That’s why almost nobody would get upset in Germany or in Europe. Although there are kids meals and stuff, BK in Germany rather is for young adolescent males. Kind of like…Hooters.

• (37)
  Dave • Monday, July 14 2008 at 6:37 pm

  It looks like it’s legit, http://www.vegcity.de has the image, and that domain is registered to Burger King:

  http://private.dnsstuff.com/tools/whois.ch?ip=vegcity.de

• (38)
  Salam Kitmitto • Tuesday, July 15 2008 at 4:11 pm

  I think therein lies the problem: BK’s brand stands for 2 different things in 2 different countries. In today’s globalized world, this is not a sound strategy to pursue (at all).

  Just because an ad is released for the German market, that does not preclude your target customers in another market from seeing and being influenced by the ad (this blog is proof of that). The second you launch a website, or post your T.V. commercial on youtube, you’ve gone global (whether you like it or not), and you should be prepared to have your branding activities in one market influence your brand’s perception in another.

• (39)
  Burger King ad sends out some funny (strange or ha-ha?) messages « Brand Strategy Magazine Blog • Wednesday, July 16 2008 at 4:37 pm

  [...] Ever see an ad and think: just what on earth was that company thinking? Well, the Ideas Sandbox blog has spotted a Burger King ad with some very odd brand imagery and messages going on and dissected [...]

• (40)
  bill • Thursday, July 17 2008 at 5:11 am

  The amazing part is that I was admiring your cleverness and ability to notice and actually see what it was you were looking at. Isn’t Burger King owned by a British Conglomerate? British PLC or some such thing? The British are far ahead of us on this pseudo science of little Johnny growing up to be an oaf because of a vision like this. It happens and really its got a touch of life to it. I still think its great and your presentation is very entertaining, you have a talent for this. How many years with a competing company do you have now? This better be bonus-able is my only other comment, and I am very serious.

• (41)
  landofthefreeLOL • Friday, July 18 2008 at 4:36 pm

  Europe rules.

  Stop whining about this and keep to your hypocrite country.

• (42)
  Fujimoto • Friday, July 18 2008 at 11:40 pm

  Why are you calling him a “burly” pickle. Seems like an inappropriate adjective to help make him seem more sinister.

• (43)
  Mashuptown Poser • Sunday, July 20 2008 at 5:06 pm

  I want to meet the BK exec who ok’d this and go out for a drink or two. If only we had this kind of material in the US. We are way to serious here. Cheers Burger King!

• (44)
  Gherkinator • Sunday, July 20 2008 at 7:27 pm

  Salam Kitmitto said:

  “I think therein lies the problem: BK’s brand stands for 2 different things in 2 different countries. In today’s globalized world, this is not a sound strategy to pursue (at all).

  Just because an ad is released for the German market, that does not preclude your target customers in another market from seeing and being influenced by the ad (this blog is proof of that). The second you launch a website, or post your T.V. commercial on youtube, you’ve gone global (whether you like it or not), and you should be prepared to have your branding activities in one market influence your brand’s perception in another.”

  But that’s a recipe for highest common denominator blandness (everyone calls this the lowest common denominator, but my inner mathematician growls at that).

  You cannot have anything remotely edgy or humorous that plays across cultures – you end up with stuff like Coca-Cola’s vacuous feel-good vaguely aspirational global campaigns. Which are OK for things like sugar water, but by no means something you want to dominate all advertising. I live in the UK, where we are enormously more relaxed about sex and swearing in the mainstream media than the US is – that wardrobe malfunction business was (and is) the source of waves of disbelieving laughter. We have regulation, of course, so you don’t get children’s TV presenters swearing and snorting coke on air – and there are increasingly strict restrictions on advertising to children – but after the watershed, TV companies can pretty well do what they like.

  For example, Channel 4, one of our national TV networks, broadcast the South Park movie at 9pm. I don’t think there was a single complaint to the regulators: even more significantly, there was silence from the right-wing newspapers who are the first to witter on about the Dangers To Our Nation/Children/Health/House Prices whenever something remotely fun happens. If even the Daily Express can’t get worked up about a truckload of fuck unloaded across the nation’s airwaves, then that battle’s been won. And even before the watershed, a modicum of sense prevails – Doctor Who, which is basically a children’s programme, has been a huge success, even though it has openly gay and bisexual characters who behave in openly gay and bisexual ways. It portrays them as normal people behaving in a normal way, and has a lot of fun with that.

  An advertiser who works in that environment can’t be too scared that what they do will be picked up and excoriated south of the Mason-Dixie line. Aware that it will happen, yes – of course. Stupid not to know. But you get brownie points for not running scared – and in the end, this is how cultures change, when the things that people are scared of exist and turn out not to be scary at all.

• (45)
  j fields • Monday, July 21 2008 at 6:26 pm

  Idea box needs someone else reviewing advertising.

  Grow up. It’s funny. Most of their clients are teenagers, and they skew heavily toward boys. You don’t get groups of giggling girls saying, “Let’s go to Burger King and eat big, meat-packed hamburgers.”

  The other Burger King crowd is truck drivers, plumbers, blue collar workers.

  So this is perfect humor for the people who frequently eat there. If illustrations this playfully juvenile, and tame from a risque point of view upset you, get thee to a nunnery. And get the heck away from any job requiring you to review advertising.

• (46)
  Regular person • Tuesday, July 22 2008 at 5:36 pm

  You guys just need to get a life, if this offends you. Stop being prudes and looking for things to be offended by. This was meant to be light hearted and funny. It is humorous. So unless you’re an onion who feels they are being discriminated by an unfair stereotype. Chill out. You’re the reason why the rest of the world laughs at our prude behavior.

• (47)
  Alex • Wednesday, July 23 2008 at 5:52 pm

  I agree with the last two comments. The illustration’s funny. Playveg… hilarious!!

• (48)
  Kevin • Wednesday, July 23 2008 at 10:13 pm

  Is life imitating art again? Homeland security’s cavity searching the porno-reading onion while the two happy jalapenos (proven salmonella carriers) in the background are waved on through.

• (49)
  Paul • Wednesday, July 23 2008 at 10:19 pm

  Kevin… brilliant comment!

• (50)
  Dennis • Thursday, July 24 2008 at 9:04 am

  Get a life people!

• (51)
  Jim • Sunday, July 27 2008 at 1:40 am

  I honestly thought you were making this up until I found the Veg City website.

  I think the one thing creepier than the visuals on the ads you linked to is the text at the bottom of each one. Like with Red Light District’s, “Pickle in? Pickle out? Only you decide how you want your burger.”

• (52)
  Hank • Sunday, August 3 2008 at 3:46 pm

  This might upset me if I thought Burger King was still interested in drawing families to its restaurants. But, I think it’s pretty clear that Burger King gave that audience up years ago and has been quite obviously targeting an adult male demographic. The “I Am Man!” campaign, the creepy King, the Whopper Jr. ads… This is just more of the same.

  Is the “humor” in bad taste? Maybe, but it’s prurient enough for adult males to laugh at. Hence, the dirty magazines, the anal probe and the Red Light district.

  I’m a firm believer that being a good marketer is knowing who you want as a customer and who you don’t. This very clearly depicts who Burger King wants walking through their doors.

• (53)
  onionia • Wednesday, August 6 2008 at 11:49 am

  Here is much more of the “Veg City” Campaign by Burger King, still running in Germany:

  http://www.vegcity.de

• (54)
  Philip • Wednesday, August 6 2008 at 8:11 pm

  Reading the above its staggering how many people would appear to think Burger King should have a holy than thou Americanised approach where ever it trades.
  One of the great benefits of multi & digital channel advertising is that you CAN speak in sympathy to many different groups at the same time, rather than sticking to some bland nonsense from the ’90s.
  – Also good games review of the ViceCity / VegCity element of the campaign at http://tinyurl.com/5kzddd

• (55)
  Burger King's Marketing Blunder - Cranial Dump • Sunday, August 10 2008 at 2:59 am

  [...] they put their stamp of approval on this crap.  Come on, a lot of families with kids frequent BK! What Is Burger King Thinking? Tags: [...]

• (56)
  onionia • Wednesday, August 13 2008 at 12:01 am

  This “Vegcity” campaign really rocks!
  You can even mix music with a band of stylish vegetables!

  I call this good, clean FUN:

  http://www.vegcity.de/go/extra_songcreator

• (57)
  Burger King in a Pickle? « :THEY CALL ME THE MOOSH: • Thursday, August 14 2008 at 10:26 pm

  [...] Hilarious illustration, butt such a risk! (How many puns can I squeeze into this?) See article. [...]

• (58)
  Sally Carson • Thursday, August 14 2008 at 10:31 pm

  Love it! LOOOVE it. It takes massive cojones. Kudos to the Marketing team that let this one out the door.

• (59)
  6000miles • Friday, August 15 2008 at 12:24 am

  You overlooked the most upsetting detail: BK thinks it is obviously OK for the tomato to travel and check its 8 kids as luggage? That is 1st rate abuse that needs to be exposed!

• (60)
  Brian • Friday, August 15 2008 at 6:40 am

  I think there funny. Why don’t you get a sense of humor and stop being such an uptight douchebag?

• (61)
  Mike • Friday, August 15 2008 at 7:28 pm

  These were created by an agency called .start based in Munich, Germany.

  So a German ad agency doesn’t think there’s anything wrong with a giant pickle performing a full-body cavity search on a giant porn-loving onion in public.

  This is news? Shit, just be grateful that pickle isn’t taking a dump in the onion’s mouth.

• (62)
  Obvious Rob • Friday, August 15 2008 at 9:50 pm

  You’re children are drawing the same thing on the back of their notebooks.

• (63)
  Angry Rob • Friday, August 15 2008 at 9:51 pm

  I AM THE MOST OUTRAGED OF ALL OF YOU!!!!
  WHAT ABOUT THE CHILDREN???????
  THEY MIGHT THINK VEGETABLES HAVE BOOBIES!!!!
  OH NOES!!!
  COVER THEIR EYES!!! BOYCOTT!!! WRITE LETTERS!!! MAKE SURE YOU’RE CHILDREN NEVER LEARN ABOUT THE BOOBIES!!!

  You’re children are drawing the same thing on the back of their notebooks.

• (64)
  Jim • Friday, August 15 2008 at 9:54 pm

  Best ad campaign material I’ve seen for ages. Wish the US would take the stick out of it’s ass and start having some fun like the rest of the world.

• (65)
  frob • Friday, August 15 2008 at 10:28 pm

  Back where I am from, we call this sort of thing “Glorious.”

• (66)
  Oh, no! • Friday, August 15 2008 at 10:31 pm

  I’m on the phone with the Waahmbulance for all of you fainting-chair types. It’ll be by soon, but until then, make sure not to expose your kid to ANYTHING that might make them ask questions about sex! It’s evil!

• (67)
  Nella • Friday, August 15 2008 at 11:06 pm

  Its official, I’ve seen it all. The unfortunate part is I’m afraid of my children seeing it all before they reach my age! I guess I’d better start carrying around blindfolds for my children to wear before we walk by a Burger King at the mall.

• (68)
  Chris • Friday, August 15 2008 at 11:38 pm

  I love it. Agree it probably does nothing the brand but it’s really not that serious. I thought it was funny.

• (69)
  shdwsclan • Friday, August 15 2008 at 11:49 pm

  Well, Europe isn’t so squeamish as the usa is…
  Hell, they run playboy at night on pulic, terrestrial television for free…at night thought…..

• (70)
  Holly • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 12:41 am

  That was definitely disgusting!!!

• (71)
  Paula • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 12:51 am

  I find it to be similar to BK’s food, tasteless.

• (72)
  filmguy • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 1:41 am

  I wish the U.S. wasn’t so quick to deem something like this somehow offensive or detrimental to the moral fiber of the nation. It’s a funny and interesting ad that gives people something to look at or talk about while eating their burgers. People always complain about how things like this are harmful to kids. I think if I saw this as a kid, I’d find it funny too. Or if I were a really young kid, I’d just ignore it outright because I’m throwing my fries around. This ad makes me want to buy from BK just to spite the humorless prudes who think so awful about this ad! Great job to the ad agency that made this! And go Europe for not being prudes!

• (73)
  Alex • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 3:25 am

  I think these are clever – also those of us in the USA should realize that there’s a lot more sex in ads in Europe in general.

• (74)
  superchou • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 5:08 am

  Thank god more level headed people chimed in… I was really disturbed by people freaking out over a piece of paper. You know what? there are a hell of a lot more things to get worked up over than a picture of pickles with boobs… like real problems going on in the world that have a lot more influence over your kids than a BK ad in Germany.

  Further, Europeans are a lot less uptight about sex as is evident of images of half naked women on bus stops. I would much rather that my kids see a pair of boobs than people blown up on some tv show.

• (75)
  Osmooms • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 5:31 am

  I agree, 6000miles, this is vegetable trafficing, pure and simple!!!
  As for the campaign, I love it!!

  Cheers
  Osmooms

• (76)
  David J. Derus » What Is Burger King Thinking? • Friday, August 15 2008 at 11:37 pm

  [...] http://idea-sandbox.com/blog/2008/07/what-is-burger-king-thinking/ [...]

• (77)
  Blake Wilkinson • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 5:59 am

  that’s what you get when you outsource your p.r.
  burger king is run by nitwits.

• (78)
  David Short • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 6:36 am

  It is sad when we live in a world, especially in America, where people are offended more easily with every passing day. I’m surprised someone (American—and yes, for the record I am born and raised Midwestern) hasn’t attempted a lawsuit against Burger King for being so emotionally distressed from having seen such artwork.

  I congratulate the firm for doing that campaign, principally it took such strong artwork to get people’s attention. You may think it’s extreme but as most everyone knows, prudish-ness rarely moves merchandise or evokes a feeling, good or bad, for a product.

  Parents, principally American ones again, need to discuss things openly with their children. And quit coddling them into arrogant, I-always-get-my-way, soft little whiners who will get crushed once they get out into the real world. Way to go easily-offended moms and dads, keep up the good work.

• (79)
  Guy • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 8:13 am

  That is hilarious. My respect for Burger King and Germany just skyrocketed.

• (80)
  Darlene • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 9:13 am

  I think it’s fine. It’s sad how the first to reply so shocked and indignant are women. Stop being so senstive and hypocritically prudish.

• (81)
  George • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 10:13 am

  Not only is this disturbing, I called up my local Burger King to complain and they said *they knew nothing about it*. I told them this was complete b.s. and how could they possibly not know. Then, proving they knew all about it, I got to talk with the manager and *he offered me a coupon for a free small fries!* Obviously it was a “pay-off” so I wouldn’t tell anyone else. This goes all the way to the top, folks.

• (82)
  penguin • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 11:45 am

  you people need to take that stick out of your butt and relax.

• (83)
  Stu • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 2:42 pm

  It’s very simple, in Germany they take a much more adult view on this kind of thing. Nudity is a lot more normal for a instance. Really nothing to worry about and pretty funny really.

• (84)
  jimi • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 3:16 pm

  Those offended should definitely not travel to Germany in the first place, where newstands on the street show magazine covers with naked human boobs right out where anyone can see them. Definitely wouldn’t want to go to a German beach or park, where real live women are liable to take their tops off. And don’t even think about turning on the TV late at night.

  In short, other countries are not America.

• (85)
  hURRLey - i am social bookmarking! • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 5:40 pm

  [...] | incoming hURRLs | getting started | FAQ | blog Voila, the hURRL you reqested …1 hURRLs – What Is Burger King Thinking? (first hURRLed by mmathias @ 41 seconds ago /// permalink) mmathias says:”LOL!”What else is [...]

• (86)
  bdt • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 5:56 pm

  More proof that Americans are imbeciles who will get offended by anything different.

  Americans are clueless when it comes to inventive, clever, funny advertising. They are so afraid of offending people that their ads are always unfunny, pointless and just plain stupid.

• (87)
  Television • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 7:33 pm

  Come on that’s hilarious. Forget about the kiddies for a second, it’s vegetable porn yea it’s suggestive but a kid will be too busy gobbling up fries then to really look at that and start asking questions.

• (88)
  Alex • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 9:14 pm

  The following placemat is far worse than the Airport example. It’s of a redlight district for vegetables:
  http://adsoftheworld.com/media/print/burger_king_veg_city_red_light_district?size=_original

  I don’t care what country this is used in, if kids are eating there, this trash has no place on placemats at Burger King. Those who have kids may understand this better than those who don’t.

• (89)
  SFT • Saturday, August 16 2008 at 11:13 pm

  Got to agree with Sally, I think it’s funny as hell. Probably disturbing for the sheltered, bible-literalist segment of the US, but I’m as tired of their demands we all live by their religion as I am of the muslim fundamentalists. Somebody got one over, and it’s hilarious!

• (90)
  Frank • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 2:23 am

  LOL! Dried up cunts like Cathi and others telling the world that we have to bow to their American bible belt sensitivities. Sorry, but we stick to our own moral values where sex is not a mortal sin and kids don’t get corrupted just because they see a bare boob on TV. You’ll have to invade if you want to change that. Frank from Berlin

• (91)
  Argus • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 6:15 am

  All you prude Americans stick to your hypocrite country full of…well.. prudes… and leave Europe alone.
  I live in Germany (even though I’m not German) and over here BK isn’t a place where all you find are screaming pests running around like headless chicken and making a mess, aka, children. Most you find are teenagers or adults. You can find all the little pests and Mc’s (which I avoid like the plague).
  And the news show people blown to pieces, wars, etc but I suppose seeing some cartoon with innuendo is worse for the kid’s head than seeing real people blown to bits and bleeding into oblivion… yeah right…
  Honestly… “omfg!!I’m boycotting BK!!!!!1111ONEELEVEN”; “OMFG!!My kids would die if they saw this!!!” (HINT: no they wouldn’t)…
  That other bimbo had a wardrobe dysfunction (omfg!! A boob was shown on TV!!) and it was the end of the world! OMG!! The kids saw a BOOB!!
  HINT: your babies suckle on your boobs so the first thing they have contact with is? You guessed right: BOOBS AND NIPPLES!! hell, they even suck on the nipples!! HOW CRASS!!!)
  I could go on forever about this… bah… stupid people in a stupid country…

• (92)
  drruthless • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 6:54 am

  OMFG! I laughed so hard I wet myself….Y’all need to lighten up on them Germans!…

• (93)
  itsme10 • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 8:48 am

  I AM READY TO BOYCOTT BK -this as bad as racial profiling… anyone start a fb group !!

• (94)
  Peter • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 12:04 pm

  Just funny to see how the people on “the other side” of the atlantic go ballastic :-D I just find it funny and basically, no its not offensive here, since our kids are regarded as human beeings who can differentiate. So there you have a little culture shock for america, c’mon guys lighten up!

• (95)
  Tish • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 6:37 am

  Wow. Very interesting BK.

• (96)
  Max • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 2:49 pm

  I don’t understand why so many people are upset, I think it’s funny.

• (97)
  Michael • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 6:05 pm

  To the people saying they would be horrified if their children or grandchildren saw this…Why? Why? What is so bad about the ad? I understand why the cartoonist would be in trouble, and frankly, it’s a dumb move on his part with the way society is today.

  But the real issue is why is it that he can’t draw a picture such as this one. WHAT is so shocking/appaling/disgusting/offensive/dangerous to children, about VEGETABLES with human characteristics? I don’t see what angers you people about the real thing! They’re tits! TITS!

  All you concerned mothers out there, look down. Look down! You may be surprised to see you’ve got your own pair of breasts. Seriously, explain to me why you would not want your children to see this.

• (98)
  Mmm, Donuts! » Blog Archive » WTF Burger King • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 6:36 pm

  [...] Bonus coverage of the last ad here. [...]

• (99)
  Framboise • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 6:52 pm

  It’s not nearly as creepy as the plastic-molded-head Burger King himself.

• (100)
  Karl • Sunday, August 17 2008 at 11:12 pm

  Funny how many (presumably US) people react to this. I’m from Austria (just accross the border to Germany) and think it’s funny. Wouldn’t even mind children seeing it. They won’t get it anyway, and if they ask simply explain. (it’s proven that the earlier you start sex education, the safer the sex life afterwards)

• (101)
  Atomnissen • Monday, August 18 2008 at 12:10 pm

  Hihihihihi!
  Its brilliant!
  Tounge in cheek and and showing a company that doesnt take itself too seriously :)

• (102)
  Ian Betteridge • Monday, August 18 2008 at 12:23 pm

  Brilliant. I love it to bits. But then I, too, am European.

• (103)
  Saganhill • Monday, August 18 2008 at 4:44 pm

  Christ—people…if you dont like it, dont look at it.

  To all you idiots who say, “I dont want my kids to see this”, –they probably already have. Most 7-10 years olds know about sex, so-called filthy words, etc…they just dont tell their parents. Remember when you were that young?

  Banning things, item, art–even if you dont agree its art, and other publications is nothing more than fascism at its peak. Whats next, you people going to start burning books?

  I have to agree with Karl–”

  BTW–I am from America–the state of Michigan to be exact.

• (104)
  brelson.com » The harsh reality of life as a Burger King ingredient • Monday, August 18 2008 at 4:55 pm

  [...] A very strange tray liner, found in an airport Burger King, depicts some very strange goings-on. [...]

• (105)
  Bobby Bobson • Monday, August 18 2008 at 8:42 pm

  Lol at all the concerned parents posting here.

• (106)
  deathinmymouth • Monday, August 18 2008 at 8:57 pm

  I live in America and I think this is great. And to all you parents complaining about exposing your children to the “horrors” contained in these silly ads, if you were a good parent you wouldn’t be stuffing your kids mouth full of Burger King food anyway. Let go of your stupid religious guilt and get on with life. Jeez.

• (107)
  Comedy blog • Monday, August 18 2008 at 11:56 pm

  I actually only get on airplanes because of Burger King.

• (108)
  Greg • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 12:08 am

  Jeez, you people ever see a Hardy’s ad? And I’m talking in the US. This is tame.

  Don’t ruin it for the rest of us – if you don’t want your kids to see this, then look at the liner before you put it in front of them and ask for another if it bothers you. BK won’t mind. Although they will think you are a prude.

• (109)
  Defektiv • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 4:07 am

  I long for the day when we, as a people, can put taboos like these aside and talk about, advertise, enjoy depictions of life as it is instead of some fake ideology we fell into from our upbringings. It’s a deadly cycle that just propagates ignorance.

  I think there are limits. I don’t want to see goat.se on my fast food bag for example. But this idea that people are not fit enough to handle things as trivial (and real life reflective) as this is ridiculous. I watched sexual insinuations on Saturday morning cartoons my whole life and never got any of it until I was old enough to understand it.

  OH NOES! It’s a barely legible humorous depiction of a veggie on an insinuated pr0n mag like daddy has in his closet! EVERYONE RUN!

• (110)
  Geminate • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 4:33 am

  Veddy interesting…but shtupid!

  You vill eat our burgers and loves them or DIE DIE DIE!

  Sie pathetisch Drohnen!

• (111)
  Jeff J. • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 4:59 am

  My favorite part is the vegetable (presumably) that’s been crushed by the airliner’s wheel just above the pepper’s stem. It also has violence!

  This does seem a bit out-of-band for a US market, as one can tell by all the agitated US parents. Probably why it was a local German thing.

• (112)
  In addition to Burger King employee's, check out their security! - darkmesa • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 7:14 am

  [...] addition to Burger King employee’s, check out their security! What Is Burger King Thinking? This is REAL. __________________ 1968 Mustang [...]

• (113)
  Melissa Aka WildGrits • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 9:07 am

  Religious American mom here. I would love to find one of these ads. They are funny and fresh as can be.

  And to all of the folks with their undies in a bunch, you have no first hand proof that BK even has these tray liners. No offense to the Site owner. But before you go deciding to Boycott, you might want to actually find out first hand if something is true.

  And I doubt your snowflakes would even notice these tray liners even if they did have them at your local BK.

• (114)
  Paul • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 10:41 am

  A few thoughts from your blog host, Paul…

  1. Thank you for the lively discussion.
  2. The fact that some think this is a scam or a Photoshop fake leads me to believe that – even if you think it is cool artwork – you are not sure if you believe it is real. (Doubting the credibility supports the fact that you think this is incredible).
  3. This artwork was on my tray liner in Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam – I don’t have knowledge that this is a tactic in the US. I’m assuming it is a Europe-only tactic.
  4. My original questions surrounded whether or not this is truly the way Burger King wants to express their brand?
  5. If anyone has seen this approach in the U.S., or other parts of Europe, please let me know.

• (115)
  Dirkus Maximus » Blog Archive » Keep it classy, Burger King. • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 4:55 am

  [...] Props to the folks at Idea Sandbox for the original story and graphics. [...]

• (116)
  Marty • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 2:45 pm

  “Please don’t misconstrue this post as supporting/creating “buzz” for a successful tactic by Burger King. (Unless, Burger King is positioning itself as the “Hooters” of fast food burgers). This Mad Magazine-style execution – while funny and clever – doesn’t fit the Burger King I’ve known.”

  Give me an f’ing break. You embody the attitude that makes the US so incredibly and irrationally prude in regards to anything perceived as remotely “sexual” (and using that to describe this ad is a bit of a stretch). It’s funny, and as adults, why the hell can’t we just appreciate the cleverness and humor? Why do we have to be offended by cartoon depictions of vegetable porn magazines and the insinuation that an onion is going to get a cavity search? It didn’t surprise me one bit to learn that the ad was created in Germany, where society has a much more level headed view of “suggestive” material.

  THIS ISN’T THE FAST FOOD CHAIN I KNOW AND LOVE! HOW COULD YOU BETRAY ME LIKE THIS BURGER KING? ONIONS DESERVE OUR RESPECT!

• (117)
  Ker Kernel • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 2:48 pm

  This is outrageous. Look at this desecration of Grease!

  The pickle looks like he is going to make the onion his palsie.

  Where is the kitchen sink with Mr. Unstable taking a bath in it?

• (118)
  Stuff to Look At - 8/19/08 | s00per.com ( · )( · ) hand check! • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 2:49 pm

  [...] Best.  Tray liner.  Ever.  (Story/Pics) [...]

• (119)
  Craig • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 5:26 pm

  Hmmm…on first being told of the campaign, I thought it was hilarious. When I looked at the images themselves, I still thought it was funny, but…I’m no puritan by any means, but I think that the most obvious ads lean heavily on sex and violence. It seems to me to be a crutch…an easy way to create “good” advertising, because they’re sort of primal triggers for us primates. So I still say “Good Job” and I myself enjoy it, but it probably could’ve been done a little more subtly. And really, it’s not the sex at all, but the one that disturbed me more than anything was the “Sniper”…too many reticules, too much shooting in America’s culture today. And that’s not a criticism directed at BK, but the whole nation. I get it, the obvious correlation, still…I stick to my comments in the previous sentence.

  I do, however, find it amusing that Americans want to boycott BK because of it – all the while choosing to ignore the fact that it wasn’t even meant for our market in the first place. Stupidity reigns! Freedom Fries!

  And yes, I think this is right in line with everything else BK is doing and to whom they cater. So with regards to that, I say “Great Success!”

  Love from Kansas, the heart of America.

• (120)
  Tim • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 6:09 pm

  Personally I prefer Carrot Top-less to Wet Veg any day of the week. WV is way too raunchy.

• (121)
  SRT Forums - Dodge Forum • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 6:26 pm

  [...] King tray liner with incipient cavity search by pickle? WTF????? What Is Burger King Thinking? Look at the onion, pants down, and the nasty looking pickle behind him. And thats just the tip [...]

• (122)
  Bryan • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 6:42 pm

  I’d prefer my kid be exposed to this liner than to the BK food, itself. Some of you parents need to get your priorities straight!

  BTW, I call shenanigans. There’s no way a big corporation like BK would allow this, in the US or out.

• (123)
  john m • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 7:49 pm

  Hilarious.

• (124)
  Jerry • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 8:07 pm

  I did’nt see andy Pecker Heads. So it must be OK.

• (125)
  Keenan • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 9:22 pm

  Get off the “crack”. It is all in good fun and funny.

• (126)
  Roland Deschain • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 10:28 pm

  It’s utterly amazing how people think that just because they’re offended that they have the right to keep/try to keep other people from seeing them. I personally find the ads funny and innovative – unlike many ads these days which are just bland, boring, and a waste of time. If you don’t like the ads, vote with your money. Don’t go. However, I’d be willing to bet my bottom dollar that most of the parents’adults here complaining about the content do not have the slightest idea what is in the shows their children are already watching. After having been told so many times that Looney Tunes were bad because of their depictions of “violence”, I was surprised by what is actually let pass on Saturday morning cartoons anymore. People anymore are just too irresponsible to take the effort to actually explain and TALK to their children – and thusly only become “offended” and “horrified” because they have nothing else constructive to do. We need more creativity like this. Even if the King disturbs me to no end.

• (127)
  Mike from NY • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 10:46 pm

  I think this is one of the funniest campaigns I’ve seen in a long time. It was designed for use in Germany where, like most countries other than the US, people can actually take a joke.

  Here are a few thoughts:

  1. Not everything on the planet has to be sanitized for your children.
  2. Your precious little snowflakes are not going to go straight to hell if they see cartoon boobs
  3. Not every country in the world has to conform to your goofy puritanical view of things
  4. We Americans freak out if our children see a nipple or hear a curse word, but watching people blow each other’s heads off on television 24 hours a day is perfectly fine. Please. Enough with the double standard.
  5. Burger King has increased their market share in the last few years by somewhere around 80% so they seem to be doing something right & probably don’t care what you think.

  And Finally:

  6. Lighten the f*%k up already. It’s okay to have a sense of humor. Try it, you might like it. And the rest of the world might start to think we aren’t such a bunch of asshats.

• (128)
  the truth • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 11:12 pm

  Shame on Burger King for actually having entertaining ads. Such ogres!

  It’s called humor, people. Stop complaining and start developing a sense of it.

• (129)
  Pickles_008 • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 11:49 pm

  It’s obvious that Germans love boobs and Americans love guns – and one’s powerless when it comes to real love, right?

• (130)
  onionia • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 12:30 am

  Onions giving birth!!
  Look at this new Burger King ad from Veg City Harvest Hospital:

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/29610447@N03/2767893074/

  KID FRIENDLY!!! Almost no boobs!

• (131)
  dave • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 4:55 am

  Cavity searches suck. I already know this. Public on the spot cavity searches though? I couldn’t have dreamed that in my worst nightmare!

• (132)
  Not a wowser • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 5:12 am

  You people are idiots. Mortified if your kids saw it? Kids wouldn’t know what’s going on, they just see a bunch of vegetables. Offensive? Stop being a wowser. The quest by conservatively-minded people to sterilise the world beige and make it boring as batshit really gets up my onion-hole.

• (133)
  Burger King Ads in Germany - Los Angeles Kings Hockey Fan Forum • Tuesday, August 19 2008 at 11:36 pm

  [...] Why don’t we have this ad campaign here? This is hilarious. What Is Burger King Thinking? Burger King: Veg City, Red-light district | Ads of the World: Creative Advertising Archive & [...]

• (134)
  Jb • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 10:54 am

  Yes this may be bad brand marketing for BK… but to say “oooh Im not taking my grnadchildren there ever again”, please!

  Have a think. Maybe you shouldn’t take children [who cant a make rational decisions about the nutritional requirements] to a fast food restaurant in the first place? Hello.

• (135)
  JM • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 5:52 pm

  this is great, i don’t see what the big deal is. it’s entertainment, dont tell me you wouldn’t all be staring at this while eating your whopper trying to find every detail of the illustration. they’re friggin vegetables; have a sense of humor

• (136)
  Dan • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 6:41 pm

  Wow, I’m not sure which is more surprising and humorous… the gutsiness of the ad, or the panicked responses here. I personally think it’s cute and funny… if not just kind of silly, and therefore pretty benign.

  Airports are a more adult marketplace, so in my opinion, this is totally acceptable and appropriate. Clearly, there is a concerted effort to reach a particular market segment with this campaign. Something like this doesn’t just slip through the cracks (if you’ll excuse the expression… given the subject matter in the ad!)

• (137)
  Joel Polowin • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 6:59 pm

  Of course the onion was pulled out of line for suspicious behaviour. None of the other vegetables are wearing pants in the first place. What a pervert…

• (138)
  Amanda • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 8:57 pm

  I think they’re pretty funny, if somewhat disturbing. And I think it’s obvious that BK has been forgoing the “family fast food” vibe that McDonalds and Wendy’s have for some time now, and focusing on the adolescent/young adult male population, mostly via odd humor. The guy dressed as the Burger King, that obedient chicken (or whatever that was), the commercials where the BK junior is hooking up in his room… these are not family-themed ads.

  Though female, I have the sense of humor of a 15 year old boy, so I’d say they’re doing pretty well; I’ve enjoyed all their ad campaigns over the past few years.

• (139)
  The Mid-week news round-up! « Electric Heavenland • Wednesday, August 20 2008 at 9:58 pm

  [...] Burger King Completely Flips Out [...]

• (140)
  Burger King Gets Racy, European Style! « Two Bites in Suburbia • Thursday, August 21 2008 at 5:01 am

  [...] King Gets Racy, European Style! Posted on August 20, 2008 by TwobitMe Have you seen the new Burger King placemats popping up across Europe?  You reall should take a look.  They’re priceless.  And as I’ve said, I think [...]

• (141)
  Mid-week misanthropy, vol. 13 « Blunt Object • Thursday, August 21 2008 at 7:39 am

  [...] What is Burger King thinking? (Idea-Sandbox.com) [...]

• (142)
  AnimalAndy • Thursday, August 21 2008 at 4:25 pm

  Uhm… well… I don’t think it’s that bad. You have to look at it with tongue in cheek, I guess. But then again I am from Germany and that puts me in league with the dastardly ad agency.

• (143)
  enchanted • Thursday, August 21 2008 at 5:03 pm

  I’m sorry, I don’t find these as offensive as some do. Europeans have a dark,nasty, kinky sense of humor & I truly enjoy it! I would take the liners off my tray before they could get messy & take them home! Hilarious!!!!

• (144)
  onionia • Thursday, August 21 2008 at 8:16 pm

  If you want to judge if this campaign fits the brand, you have to look at all 13 (!!!) ads shown in Germany.

  This fotostream on flickr has all 13 different motives called “VEG CITY”:

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/29610447@N03/

  If you look at the variety of the 13 motives, you can clearly see the campaign totally fits the brand!! Parents and females are targeted as well as adolescents. Dammit, and I really do think this is a lot of good clean fun…

• (145)
  murketing » Blog Archive » AntiFriday: Your weekly compendium of backlashes, dissent & critiques • Thursday, August 21 2008 at 8:59 pm

  [...] [...]

• (146)
  The awesome thread - Page 4 - HardwareLogic • Thursday, August 21 2008 at 6:03 pm

  [...] The awesome thread Best BK add EVAH! What Is Burger King Thinking? CPU:Intel Q9300 Board:ASUS Rampage Formula Memory:4 gigs Patriot Viper at 1066 Video Card:BFG [...]

• (147)
  hottie • Friday, August 22 2008 at 7:25 am

  on “playveg,” that’s a pepper, not a carrot – look at the leaves on top. just sayin.

  great conversation – very illuminating about cultural differences. interesting to learn that BK’s image in Europe is so different from its image in the US. but it is worth noting that we’re not all prudes here just like you aren’t all topless vegetables over there. ;)

  my favorite ‘offended’ post was the guy who got the free french fry coupon and wrote, “Obviously it was a “pay-off” so I wouldn’t tell anyone else. This goes all the way to the top, folks.” please tell me that was satire. but i have a sinking feeling it wasn’t. :/

  and fwiw i don’t get why people are yelling at Paul about posting this – he wasn’t the one saying he wasn’t gonna take his kids there. he just questioned whether BK was doing what was best for its brand image. a reasonable question.

• (148)
  Paul • Friday, August 22 2008 at 8:53 am

  hottie – thanks for the correction! You sure know your vegetables.

  I suspect, with a name like “hottie” you would have to know one hot pepper from the other!

  thanks for visiting Idea Sandbox and for leaving your reaction!

• (149)
  Pickles_008 • Friday, August 22 2008 at 9:16 pm

  +++EXCLUSIVE+++

  The onion reveals it all on TV…check it out!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aq2lXEH9lyk

• (150)
  Babbs • Saturday, August 23 2008 at 8:02 am

  I don’t find it funny or offensive, just a strange ad campaign that rates somewhere between oddly amusing and traffic accident. Obviously the veggies in Europe are quite nasty and perverted, not like the good upstanding-citizen veggies of the gool ole US of A.

• (151)
  Lupinia Studios » Blog Archive » What Is Burger King Smoking? • Sunday, August 24 2008 at 4:33 am

  [...] Article: What Is Burger King Thinking? [...]

• (152)
  Xopher.tm • Monday, August 25 2008 at 1:44 am

  Veggie-Porn.

  Good Christ.

• (153)
  Big Boobs, Erotic Vegetables, and Burger King’s European Ad Campaign « Laura McGeough’s Blog • Monday, August 25 2008 at 10:48 pm

  [...] Take a look at the comments to my original post at the Idea Sandbox Blog. [...]

• (154)
  LIsa • Tuesday, August 26 2008 at 6:01 pm

  Hey, if your little kids UNDERSTAND that pervy sexual innuendo depicted here, it sure as heck ain’t Burger King’s fault! They just see the funny faces and laugh. Maybe they’ll ask curious questions about what the silly veggies are doing. You can give easily understandable ‘kid’ type answers to most of them. They explanations of what these vegs are doing here are being given by adults, and will only be understood by adults! Really!
  “Mommy, why is the onion sad?” “Because he is too old to be a BK onion” “Mommy, what is the policeman pickle doing?” “He is searching the Onion for illegal things.” “Mommy, why is the pickle wearing a glove?” “So he does not get his hands dirty or get infected with any bad germs the old, dirty onion might be carrying. You should wash your hands when handling food, too.” All sexual innuendoes can be avoided easily here. Whatever else you see, is manufactured in your adult minds. Your kids will eventually learn about this stuff no matter how much you shelter them anyway. BK is definitely attempting to target the adolescent, young adult, highschool/college kids who are most likely to frequent their establishment. These are the people who will read additional funny innuendo into these cartoons. BK sees no need to uselessly target their marketing to people who most frequently cook at home. The have wisely chosen their most likely patrons and are attempting to make their establishment more “fun” and attractive to that group, all so they will maximize their profits! It’s all about the $$$ in the end, guys. This controversy will only draw in more of the young adults who find this kind of humor amusing. The more grandmothers and puritans who speak out about this, the funnier, and more attractive it will be to their target market. They will gain a great deal of free advertising, through internet and word of mouth, which is FAR less expensive than ads, and far more profitable. So their marketing ploy is successful. I was certainly completely captivated by the artwork. It’s very controversial nature just made me want to look more closely. Too bad they aren’t marketed in the US. I’d go and get a diet soda, just so I could get a look at the art….(I don’t eat their fattening, unhealthy food anyway) Unfortunately, BK has probably wisely decided they don’t want to deal with all the puritans in the US who will sue them, for fear of the above foolish statements above of people who think their kids will be harmed from exposure to innuendoes of sexual perversion they should not even be able to understand in the first place. Unfortunately freedom of speech in the US has been thoroughly stomped on by our own over burdened, and corrupt legal system.

• (155)
  Dr Wright • Friday, August 29 2008 at 4:36 pm

  UM… EWWWW
  Maybe they were trying to hit all areas of sexuality and link it to Burger King.
  It’s not like the Water-head Burger King is helping much.

  Dr. Wright
  The Wright Place TV show
  http://www.wrightplacetv.com

• (156)
  an ad campaign gone too far? » the zen kitchen, watertown MA • Monday, September 1 2008 at 7:57 pm

  [...] to a series of illustrated ads for Burger King that she found disturbing. While the comments on the Idea Sandbox (great site, by the way) had a lot more to do with the apparently sexualized nature of many of the [...]

• (157)
  Tom Bowman • Tuesday, September 2 2008 at 10:29 am

  geesh I live in America and I’m not offended by this get a life you morally religious right its just a joke get one of those things called a sense of humor that is if you know how

• (158)
  onionia • Tuesday, September 2 2008 at 9:25 pm

  “weird Burger King cartoon” on Chicago News TV:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH5nKjQ6okg

  “Europeans are edgier…they go for…you know…anything!”

• (159)
  Idea Sandbox “Burger King Tray Liner” Makes Chicago TV • Tuesday, September 2 2008 at 10:29 pm

  [...] What Is Burger King Thinking? [...]

• (160)
  Have it Your Way | The Daily Cat Chase • Thursday, September 4 2008 at 5:38 am

  [...] lot of people have found these Burger King tray liners offensive. Personally, I think they’re hilarious. I think people get their knickers in a [...]

• (161)
  q • Wednesday, September 10 2008 at 7:05 pm

  oh really?

  this is same burger king that has vaguely insinuating signs up in their restaurants talking about mustard and “smooth as silk”. this is the same burger king whose mascot is a guy dressed up in a DELIBERATELY creepy medieval king outfit complete with rob-the-bank plastic mask. this is the same burger king who made an xbox game based off said mascot where you sneak around hiding in trash cans and throw burgers at people.

  I dunno what bible belt alternate dimension burger king you’ve been going to all these years, but I can assure you where ever it is, there’s only one of them. say what you will about BKs advertising, you need a reality check.

• (162)
  Rainier Roxas • Thursday, October 2 2008 at 11:51 am

  I love it

• (163)
  Jonathan J. • Friday, October 3 2008 at 7:48 pm

  BKs advertising is hilarious. I have nightmares about the King still =[. Also you should note that the security officer is pointing at the misfortunate onion (he’s fu*$ked kinda look on his face) AND theres some more veggie nudity in the newspaper lmfao.

• (164)
  John • Wednesday, December 3 2008 at 11:14 pm

  AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

• (165)
  matt searles • Monday, December 8 2008 at 6:29 pm

  You know.. if Burger King decided they wanted to sponsor / advertise in some kind of an adult internet show.. I’d at least be impressed to see an add like that… not that that would be a smart thing to do.. but.. I’d enjoy it… I kind love the idea of band’s doing crazy edgy things.. again, not that it’s a good idea for the brand really… but just cause it would entertain me… I’m selfish that way I guess..

  But I can’t believe they’d stick something like this in an airport?! I mean what were they thinking?! That’s just insane! I have a friend who counts to 10 before he tweets on twitter.. just cause he’s liable to tweet something a little crazy… I think these guys could learn from my friend!

• (166)
  Bob • Monday, December 22 2008 at 10:19 am

  You complainers have lost your mind. It’s all quite creepy, and the person in charge of approving this kind of advertisement also seems to have lost her mind.

  But let’s grab ahold of what is important here: This is Burger King you are talking about. Home of the best hamburgers in all of Asia. Only a true expat could understand the glorious joy of the occassional Burger King whopper (even though I have to pack my own extra tomato slices!).

• (167)
  maus • Wednesday, December 31 2008 at 3:02 am

  I think it’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Then again, I’m not nearly as fazed by sexual imagery as I am by violent imagery- it’s honestly only a touch more lascivious than some of the things I read as a kid in MAD in the 80s. I don’t know, the “What were they thinking?” line doesn’t even really occur to me.

  I can see these going over well in Europe, but we’re all overly queasy and anxious about anything remotely sexy hitting the brains of children here in the Bucolic States of America. Would you rather your children have the knowledge that sometimes people like sex, or the knowledge that conflicts can be resolved through violence?

• (168)
  josh • Thursday, March 26 2009 at 10:13 pm

  um ok
  I think they thought no one would see the play boy magazines on the ground but theres a naked pepper right behind it.
  I guess it make some sense you know only the best vegtabales and all that crap
  Pluse its in a public aera not in a bar were theres no kids so
  why did burger king let this ad pass?

• (169)
  kim • Tuesday, April 7 2009 at 3:31 am

  Yeh, after watching the “bigg butts” BK commercial today, I am OFFICIALLY done with burger king. You know, eating breakfast in bed with “The King” was bad enough, but the bigg butts sponge bob campaign just pushed me over the edge. Who the hell writes this stuff? It’s not funny, it’s stupid. I don’t want my children shaking their butts and answering “bootie” calls. I have a little more respect for my children, thanks. I will not promote this.

• (170)
  Steve R. • Wednesday, May 6 2009 at 6:26 pm

  I wasn’t aware that the Germans even had a sense of humour.

• (171)
  fish429 • Saturday, January 2 2010 at 8:56 am

  Of course this would be okay in Germany- remember their SPARKLING AND CLEAN record of morality? :? Especially in the 1940′s?

  Anything goes in Germany, because their grandparents killed off the Ten Commandments bunch…

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