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Subscribe to RSSThe commercial, featuring people speaking in fake Jamaican accents, has been earning harsh criticism. Barbara Lippert of MediaPost.com calls it "racist" and says she doubts it will air during the Super Bowl amid the controversy.
Our Life Inc. readers don't think Volkswagen’s new Super Bowl ad is offensive, and, as it turns out, neither do many Jamaicans.
The commercial, which features carefree office workers speaking in inexplicable Caribbean accents to the background tune of Jamaican singer Jimmy Cliff's "C'mon, Get Happy," has been characterized by some media critics as racist.
During an appearance Wednesday on TODAY, Barbara Lippert, editor-at-large at mediapost.com, said she was "shocked" by the ad.
"My problem with it is there's no link to Volkswagen. It's a German car!" she said.
"It's just saying that black people are happy."
New York Times columnist Charles M. Blow told CNN that the advertisement was like "blackface with voices."
But on Wednesday, Jamaican lawmaker Edmund Bartlett told the Associated Press that the commercial "is a perfect illustration of Jamaican culture's global reach and our uncharacteristic penchant to be happy even in challenging situations."
Jamaica's Minister of Tourism and Entertainment Wykeham McNeill has endorsed the one-minute spot. "I think this is a very creative commercial which truly taps into the tremendous mass appeal that brand Jamaica and its hospitable people have globally,” reports Jamaican newspaper The Gleaner.
A spokesman for Volkswagen of America said the company has no plans to pull the Super Bowl spot, which is scheduled to run during the second quarter of the big game.
"We went out with confidence and did our homework," said Scott Vazin, a company spokesman, adding that the response to the spot has been "overwhelmingly positive."
Information from TODAY contributor Paul Eisenstein and the Associated Press was included in this report.
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Leave a Comment:
At firstI, I didn't get the commercial at all. I have never been to Jamaica. I do know a few people from Jamaica but none of them has this accent. I did recognize the music but actually thought the guy was making fun of being from Minnesota!!
The best part of this commercial is it exposes the true idiots in our society. How in the world can Mr. Blow and Ms. Lippert be taken seriously for anything now.
I think people are looking for things now to prove that they are not "biased" because they can find the bias in everyone else. Let's all just relax and enjoy life for awhile.
I thought the commercial was funny and great.
It's a shame that some people look for 'racism' in everything.
Barbara Lippert, editor-at-large at mediapost.com, said she was "shocked" by the ad.
I am shocked anybody who is supposed to be in a position of authority would be shocked by a clever commercial, Maybe I should be shocked by her lack of concern for mentioning my home state and the gophers. Hey Barbara take a breath and calm the heck down.
Current Americans are so fuxked up. Be Happy, No worries man.
We have a culture of PC folks that will find fault with anything said. So sad.
I don't find it offensive, I find it confusing.
You're speaking in a Jamaican accent while pushing a German product. Why not speak in a German Accent?! It would be funny speaking in the Jamaican accent if this was a travel commercial to go and visit Jamaica but for a Volkswagon..............
If they speack in german accent probably the "jews americans" complaint and their follwers and some will be remember Hitler because he is the father from this wonderfull car, yo see ? werever you turn in USA everybody complaint, I tired from this @#$% I have a plan from move out from UTOPIA sunner...
New Rule...if you are not part of the group being "offended" you shouldn't talk about if it is "offensive" or not
Barbara Lippert doesn't know the culture. Only uptight white people will be offended by this. Having lived in the Caribbean for 6 years, I can tell you, no one there will take offence. If they spoke in a Louisana accent would it be offensive? Jamaicans don't speak another language and their actually believe we north americans worry too much due to a lack of faith and spirituality.
Once I had a Jamacain student in a Speech class. The assignment was to write a speech about a "pet peeve" -- something that you couldn't stand. I had to give him an alternate assignment because he said there wasn't anything at all that got him upset. And all his friends said -- yeah, he's right. We've never seen him angry.
I'm sure that the stereotype has plenty of exceptions. Still, if you're going to be stereotyped about anything, being happy doesn't seem too bad.
Nothing like the PC libs telling the rest of us dullards what we should think. And they are media people to boot- getv a life.
I love these liberal whites like this idiot Barbara Lippert trying to tell people what they should be offended by. The point is that VW did their homework and talked to people in Jamaica and none of them found it offensive. If the people being mimicked do not find it offensive, why should anyone else. It seems like you have this group of liberal whites who like to go looking for something offensive in everything. They are not happy unless they are showing how enlightened they are by pointing out when others are being offensive to some group, even when the people who are supposed to the ones being offended take no issue with what is being said/done. These liberal whites need to let the people who are being imitated decide what is offensive and what is not and stop trying to manufacture controversy where there is none.
everyone should email Barbara Lippert at joe@mediapost.com (her email wasn't listed, but he is the editor in chief) and let her know that HER comment was very offensive, NOT the commerical. Bombard them with emails, let them know how we feel.
@don't worry1 - I don't agree with Barbara Lippert that the ad is racist, but she was asked her opinion and she gave it. There's no justification for acting like a prick in response and bombarding her e-mail account. What are you, six years old?
The only thing I read or heard here that was racist was Barbara Lippert's comments.
Cho, a wha mek peeple caan liv an let liv? If di commercial nah offend di Jamaican peeple dem, why should it bodder anybody else? Afta all di Jamaican peeple dem ha big mout and will set peeple strait in a minit if dem no like sumting. Dem Jamaican dem country may be likle, but dem tallawah. :)
Anyhoo.....So this is supposedly about a commercial in which dem av 2 bingie from foreign tryin to speak Jamdown stylee while drivin a VW.....hmmm..... Would de critics dem still a run dem mout if de car in de commercial was a BMW? Afta all didn't di late an beloved Bob Marley used to drive a beema, a bimmer, or bimwah i.e. a BMW cause to im an dem BMW meant Bob Marley Wailers? If I remember correctly.... LOL
Seriously though, Jamaica is known for it reggae riddims -which can be heard around the world and that includes in Germany too- , its rums, Blue Mountain coffee, foods, sun, beaches, friendly people and laid back style and great vacation spot, amoung other things.
So a couple of guys are in a VW listening to a chune trying to 'lively up' themselves cause they are feeling igh so igh.... er happy to the point of speak Patwah or Jamaicaan however questionable..... LOL
Isn't it amazing what a feeling a VW can engender.....all you have to do is just sit in/drive a VW with a reggae riddim for example, playing on the system (hope the bass was deep and kicking) and before long you will believe you are in Jamaica, speaking patwah and chillin with a Red Stripe in one hand and a shot of Appleton in the other, feeling mellow? Wow what a car.... LOL
The Jamaican motto is...."Out of many, One people" if I am not mistaken.... so those two guys could be of Jamaican heritage too.... so no biggie pon di accent... at least they are trying... LOL
PS. I hope I did not offend Jamaicans anywhere with my attempt at writing patwah. Cheers.....Keep blazin....?
PPS.... wasn't the "Everyday riddim" written by a Euro reggae artist from was it Sweden or Norway? Hmmm On the other hand Albarosie speaks patwah like a Jamaican native although he is Italian. Frankly thought he was Jamaican due to his accent, until looked up his bio. Talk about major surprise.....wow..
Peace etc......Going to go listen to some ''Lullabies to myself" by Promoe now..... although 'Keep Blazin' by Jah Knight may be more fun.... LOL
What an officious little twit. Take your righteous indignation and find a nice bed of nails you buzz kill.
That was hilarious. Still not buying a VW though.
Dis Ad mussi STAR cah mi skin teet all de dey!
(I liked the Ad because it made me smile!)
BZe1: No offense taken here, but I do not speak for all Jamaicans. If you know anyone from Jamaica, you know that we make fun of EVERYTHING. There is nothing off limits and we are always up for a good ribbing. I do think people tend to jump to conclusion, before thinking things through in the States. I will have to disagree with one of the posters on one point. It doesn't matter if you are from the cultural group or not, it is always ok to point out if something is offensive, if there is good reason to do so. Stand up for your brothers and sisters, even if they do not look like you, but in this case it was not warranted.
Again BZe1 good job on your patios. ;)
JS in SD, I'm both liberal and white and I am not at all offended by the commercial and I'm glad to know Jamaican's aren't either. I don't think its a problem with liberal white people, I think it's a problem with pu$$y a$$ wu$$y 8itches being given easy acess to a soap box to stand on(internet). If they had to stand in front of a group of people and say the same thing they wouldn't because everyone would just laugh in their face and dismiss them, says the guy sitting at a computer making a post on a webpage.
Did you catch that little racist dig the guy gets in toward the end there - suggesting that a re-made commercial would instead have a guy with a German accent (shouting "You will enjoy it!!!!") - clearly implying that white people are angry (German people are white). Unacceptable.
If you look for racism, you will find it whether it's there or not. That's the problem with America these days; everyone's looking to be offended at something.
Oh, go unacceptable someplace else sista!
AG99 hit the nail right on the head. If you want something to be racist or offensive, you will invent a way for it to be and others, not wanting to be considered insensitive or called names (which would be offensive but rarely is ever called that when used in this context) will agree with you. Nevermind that people who think things are racist are often just bigoted themselves and using claims of racism against others to hide their own inner racist by going after "acceptable" racism targets. Equality means everyone gets teased or no one gets teased, and I think white people have been pretty good sports with how everyone gets to insult them racially and such. It ain't so fair the other way though.
Speak for yourself AG99. I'm certainly not looking to be offended all the time, and I'm offended that you think I am.
Friends that are American Indian, told me they are tired of white politicians telling them what they should or should not be offended about. They said they are perfectly capable of deciding that for themselves. They said they are proud of sports teams being named after Indian tribes but the Politically Correct crowd ruined that for them also.
Forcing American Indians onto small pieces of their former land is much more offensive than commercials. Killing off all the bison (their primary food, fuel and clothing source) is also offensive. Portraying Indians as an impediment to civilization is also offensive. Using whites with brown and red makeup to portray them for 100 years of cinema is also offensive. By the way, most Indians don't wear headbands. That was Hollywood's way of holding long-haired wigs in place for white Indian actors with short hairstyles. Usually, only the chiefs or distinguished warriors wore headbands to show their rank. Most Indians never wore headbands.
Jamaica is my happy place! I am not surprised that it is a happy place for many other people as well! One Love!
Id just like to say, Im Jamaican, born and raised( i live in the states now) and i'm not offended and none of my Jamaican friends are offended. We love and it and we're proud we've inspired a nation. Barbara Lippert is supposed to be an expert? How does she not know that our (Jamaica's) motto is "Out of many one people" ?? All Jamaicans are NOT BLACK. she sounded very ignorant, she needs to do more research because we have Chinese, Indian, white Jamaicans etc. who she has now offended with that comment because she claims Jamaicans are all black.
I agree with you Island Girl...Her comment about "black" people being happy was stupid. It was not at all about black people and to me it sounds like she is the one with some underlying racial issues. I am not Jamaican, but if I was, I would take this commercial as a compliment to the Jamaican culture....A happy and friendly culture...
As a Jamaican, born and grown, I think this ad is hilarious. I love it!!. Coming from such a multi-cultural nation, we don't get so uptight about every little thing thinking it's offensive. I can appreciate it for what is truly is, light humour. Tek it easy people and tap mek it bada yuh! Nuff luv!
island girlie, I wish that could be the motto for the USA and for humanity but we as a species are too stupid, selfish, arrogant, narrow-minded, intolerant, immature, judgmental, hypocritical, and elitist to have that happen, and that includes more modern movements, too. The left, right, middle, and fringe need to ALL be ashamed of themselves.
Thetruthteller - That was our motto (E Pluribus Unum, Latin for "From Many, One") until 1956 when it was replaced with "In God we trust"
HALLELUJAH for ispeak comment! Being of Jamaican descent, that commercial was actually almost perfect in including the multitude of races that make up Jamaican ethnicity!
Out of one, many people!
ispeak, I like your style
Eric - Well said. I liked the original much better.
Yah mon, I did not get the logic in saying that this commercial implies all blacks are happy. Are all blacks Jamaican? I bet Spock's ears are spinning like mad.
Jamaicans aren't black..... they're Jamaican, mon.........
Spend a week there & you'll understand
folks, Lippert is white, PC,and liberal- those people are ALWAYS right -and you'd better get with the program, or she will have a tizzy fit! Can'td have that.....
Jamaican are plain and simply Jamaicans. Jamaicans are not all black. There are many different races coexisting 'happily' in Jamaica. We are all Jamaicans. I would invite Ms. Lippert to visit Jamaica to understand our culture and realize that in the 'happy' island of Jamaica racism is not an issue for us. I love this advertisement it just shows that the Jamaican culture is infectious.
Stupidest controversy ever...Barbara Lippert is way off base here. A little PC paranoia?!?
A lame attempt by an even lamer Lippert to get some attention!
I like Jamaica, and I like this commercial. I, too, thought they were making at least a little fun of being from Minnesota.
It makes Minnesota look pretty cool, too.
I'm sorry, but Ms. Lippert gives a bad name to political correctness. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this ad. It doesn't cast Jamaicans in a negative light, there's nothing pejorative about it and I'd say that her assertion that it says "black people are happy" is what is offensive. I'm a very liberal guy. I believe in political correctness for the most part, but this isn't politically incorrect in any way. I love this commercial. I think it's clever and conveys the message that Volkwagens are fun cars, just like the song and getting away to Jamaica. How do people like her get to be on TV? Idiotic...
Should've used Haiti.....a much happier people
Hahahahahahahaha....
This would appear to merely be yet another example of the self-aggrandizing Ms Lippert campaigning to become Chief of the PC Police! Does she protest the character Hermes of Futurama as well?
Barbara Lippert, editor-at-large at mediapost, do you actually receive a paycheck from Media Post for your articles or any research you do? Why?
I'm Jamaican and I love it. We aren't so sensitive. We can laugh at something that is truly funny. Ya mon.
I'm Hispanic and I loved it as well.
I'm from Jamaica and my friends and i are not at all offended by this ad, its funny that Americans are who've never been to Jamaica. We are happy that we've inspired a company to do an ad about our culture. Barbara Lippert is supposed to be an expert? Does she not know that our (Jamaica's) motto is ''Out of many one people'' ?? . All Jamaicans are NOT BLACK. We have Chinese, White, Indian, Jamaicans among many other races, so this ad cannot be classified as racist. Ignorant statement by her.
I am Jamaican and not once did I take it as offensive. My first thought was to be flattered that they thought about bringing in a Jamaican accent to this commercial. Like America, Jamaica is derived from alot of different races. Indian, Chinese, and yes even Germans. The woman who thought this commercial was offensive has a one track mind as she only eluded to "black people". Jamaica is not only made up of black people Ms Thing...do your homework and stop throwing around the race card. We Jamaicans do not like being thrown in that category. Big up to the white Jamaican guy, you did a great job!!
That is a bald face lie...Like the commercial all you want, however, please refrain yourself from spread lies. Jamaica's history ,culture ad fame is derived from the over 95% Black pop. Who are descendants of African slaves who were brought there against their will.
Georgey-Porgey, You're right, most Jamaicans are Black, but to say the commercial portray Black people as "happy" is still way off base... in fact, one of the first things I noted when I came here was how UNHAPPY Black Americans appeared... and there are many other groups of Black people who wouldn't quite fit the "happy" adjective either... what she should have said was.. "The commercial makes Jamaicans seem unreasonably happy, and even makes them seem a bit silly" THAT would have been an argument properly directed... but to imply that stereotypes of Jamaicans (mostly Black or not) would somehow reflect on Blacks from completely different cultures is ridiculous.
George37... what are you talking about? Please explain your comment.
Perhaps one could say that 95% of Jamaicans are of mixed ethnicity /heritage. If it does not bother them why does it bother you?
Are you Jamaican or of Jamaican descent? Although I doubt that.
Odd though that you think Jamaicans or their descedants are speading lies about themselves and what they like and dislike.
They like the VW commercial .... why should that bother you? You do realize that those 2 guys could be of Jamaican descent and simply were born there and lived off island?
One is a German/euro Jamaican and the other is an Asian Jamaican....?
george37 - A perfect example of Political Correctness at work.
Barbara Lippert is an idiot.
Creative work and P.R., doing exactly what it was designed to do be doing even before it goes on air or not.
I've met many non-black Jamaicans [mostly White Jamaicans and Asian Jamaicans] in real life. Heck I'm from the Caribbean, im black too and i don't find the ad offensive. In fact the head of state of Jamaica is the pissin' Queen of England... a non-black person. idk what it is about this country why ppl are so quick to whine and moan about every little bloody thing. just live and be happy
lol at the americans who think that all jamaicans are black. Please do some research.
Being a journalist carries with it a great responsibility. Journalists are given the task to report fair and unbiased reports about events. Even bloggers who will give opinions rather than fact based reports are simply commenting on events. Regarding this non-story however, is just simply a case of several journalists trying to create controversy that not one other person feels. They are trying to influence what us readers feel. That is unethical and immoral. (In my opinion) You all should be ashamed of yourselves.
This reporters living in the closet
stop making everything a problem or something to start drama. be happy people. one love !
Seriously?? If thats the case where its racist because of speech, then no actor or actress should speak in a accent, cause sooner or later the people they are trying to speak like will also cry racist
God's fault ! He created this diversity.... Well this should pop a few tops!!...
I remeber see in youtube a young black american men move to Jamaica for a wile after exoending some time ovedear He don't fill his color anymore, Just fill laike a any men, no just a black men, nobody care about his race, is more freedom in his spirit, is the latin america spirit in all this countries and islands, when he come back to US he star again fill he is Black or africanAmerican, he fill sad..!
I am Jamaican and all this crap about race is total crap. Barbara Lippert and anyone else who thinks the ad is racially offensive should actually go live in for a month and experience a culture where white, black,chinese., indian and many other types of Jamaicans live together without any racial tension.
American are so totally hipersensitive about race it is redicilous.
Go to Jamaica and watch how many people bust out laughing when they see the ad.
Every ting is iry man. Everyting.
Nah, not "America", just NBC News trying to sell a couple more tampons through nonsense like this. Quite a few of us have a pretty good sense of humor. A much smaller percentage have none at all. A very small number claim to be offended by anything and everything and those people all work for the newstainment industry. CNN, NBC, Fox, etc.
Very much so Ted, one of the hardest people to find in America is a American. We have plenty of German Americans, Irish Americans, Italian Americans, the list goes on. We live in the United States of America and no one wants to be called a American in their home Country. Not to offend Native Americans but if you are born in America, you are a Native American. To many bumper blocks in this country. For the record, I am a Native American. ;-)
Good. I'll be able to rest easy tonight.
I am Jamaican and the motto of my country of birth is "OUT OF MANY ONE PEOPLE" we are a melting pot of all races and cultures, we have no time to split hairs about racisim. We are a diversed happy fun loving people, our language and our culture are extremely colourful (and thats putting it mildly). The advert is not offensive it is very funny my only criticisim is that they did not get the accent just right and they did not use any of the very latest slangs spoken on the Island. VOLKSWAGEN DIH TING TUN UP IT SELL OFF, WEN HYPOCRITE A TALK LOW DEM MEK DEM SIT AND TALK DEM CAAN STAP WEEEE A YAH SUH NOICE BRAP BRAP JAMEKYAH A DUN DIH PLACE.
Dovette Jones, thank you for having common sense. Also, thank you for being a beautiful lady. Sadly, as much as I view Jamaica as being a beautiful place, a former brother-in-law of mine was killed there and the police did nothing to find his murderers, so I can not envision myself going to your country, not to mention that I lack the financial means to do so at this time, though the second reason has absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with the first reason. Granted, he went into the wrong crowd and was probably into that crowd long before my sister entered into his scene, but his death is still unsolved and I would love it if you could be nice and help me and my sister find his killers. This is not a joke or a spam message, this is an honest plea from me. Thank you for your help.
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