Japanese monkey ad under fire

Published: July 3, 2008 at 4:47 PM

TOKYO, July 3 (UPI) -- Some African-Americans residing in Japan said they were offended by an ad for a telecommunications company that featured a monkey running for U.S. president.

The TV commercial featured a suit-wearing monkey behind a podium holding a sign with the word "Change" on it, the Chicago Tribune reported Wednesday.

The ad was supposed to be a parody of the U.S. presidential election, the newspaper said.

Some African-Americans said they felt the ad was offensive and contained racist undertones aimed at presumptive U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama.

Some people have said the ad is being blown out of proportion because its producers were unaware of its potentially racist interpretation, the report said.

The newspaper said confusion over the ad may also stem from Americans' inability to understand the popularity of monkeys as cartoon and television characters in Japan.

© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
Your Daily Horoscope
The almanac
Empty Nest: If it's Tuesday it's NoHo
Fed presidents says zero interest needed
NHL: San Jose 4, Nashville 3
Hamburg reassures doctors on H1N1 vaccine
NBA: Sacramento 101, Oklahoma City 98
fark
Faced with a high school student wanting to bring her girlfriend to the prom, the principal does...
Liquor store owner charged with being unable to recite her ABCs, or something. The Sheriff even...
Photoshop this carnival carriage
Man threatens 9-year old girls with a nail-gun unless they play 'spin-the-bottle' with him. Prosecutor:...
If you're in Brazil and can read this, congratulations, you're not in the half of that country that's...
United Airlines pilot E. Vermont Washington charged with being in a drunken state (or two) at Heathrow...