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MillerCoors pulls ads using 'mobster'

MILWAUKEE, June 5 (UPI) -- MillerCoors LLC has decided to stop running ads featuring an actor from the TV show "The Sopranos" to advertise Miller Lite in the United States.

A number of Italian-American groups objected to the commercials, accusing the company of ethnic stereotyping, Advertising Age reported Wednesday. The ads, touting Miller Lite's "taste protector" cap showed actor Frank Vincent offering "protection" to store clerks and bartenders.

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Lou Rago, president of the Italian American Human Rights Foundation in Chicago, said the group eventually threatened a boycott.

"Look, if you agree with us you wouldn't have two black actors doing 'Amos and Andy,' if you agree with us you wouldn't have two Polish actors pretending to be stupid, and if you agree with us that you wouldn't have two Hispanics pretending to be gangbangers, then you agree with us that this is wrong," he said was the gist of what he told the company.

The company described the commercials as "intended as a lighthearted and humorous satire using pop-culture imagery." But it decided to end the campaign earlier than planned.

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