Burger King's "Whopper Virgins" Advertisement Ignites Controversy (VIDEO)

The Wall Street Journal reports on Burger King's latest ad campaign, "Whopper Virgins," which is already generating a fair amount of controversy:

The No. 2 burger maker in the U.S. asked farmers in the Transylvania region of Romania, the Hmong tribe of Thailand, and other folks in far-flung places to sample its Whopper alongside McDonald's Big Mac and declare the winner.

One ad, set to begin airing Monday, features images of villagers in traditional garb choosing the Whopper over the Big Mac. A Transylvanian woman, an Inuit tribesman from the Icelandic tundra and others point and, in their native tongues, declare their preference for Burger King's flagship product.

"We traveled to find the most isolated people in the world...the world's purest taste test," a voiceover says.

Burger King says it was trying to find "Whopper Virgins," which is also the name of its campaign. "We wanted to see how the Whopper would perform in a world that didn't have ad or marketing awareness or any sentimental attachments" to either brand, says Russ Klein, president of global marketing, strategy and innovation at Burger King Holdings.

Some critics have called the ad's use of poor villagers offensive, reports the New York Daily News:

"It's outrageous," said Sharon Akabas of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University. "What's next? Are we going to start taking guns out to some of these remote places and ask them which one they like better?"

"It's insulting," she said, adding that the money used to make the documentary would have been better spent trying to end hunger - not create it.

Marilyn Borchardt, development director for Food First, called the campaign insensitive.

"The ad's not even acknowledging that there's even hunger in any of these places," she said.

Story continues below

WATCH the ad featuring Thai Hmong tribesman.

WATCH the ad featuring Transylvanian farmers.

Are these ads offensive or is this much ado about nothing? Let us know.

Comments

[DRaymond]

The concept of the ad was interesting, the term 'whopper virgins' was tacky.

Frankly reminding people in our media-centered existence that there really are places that have never heard of a hamburger might in the big picture make them a little less self-focused.

[KarateKid]

So now they've found new people to poison with their fat laden trash. Burger Thing.

[InedaName]

Watching that Thai Hmong tribesman pick up that burger is like watching someone about to take their first hit of crack or meth. I wish I could have intervened.

[onwisconsin]

My sister just had to explain the concept of "virgin" to her 4 year old. Yeah...funny.
Exploiting people who hardly eat meat with a disgusting greasy sandwich. Uplifting.
Makes me proud to be an American.

[pandarzan]

Because your sister didn't already have to explain the "Blessed VIRGIN Mary" to her already? Get real.

[SingleWhiteMale]

So when Sasha Cohen uses and rapes a small town and it's people to make a stupid Hollywood movie it's ok...but when an eeeevil corporation gives free food to poor people it's exploitation? You liberals are such freaking hypocrites it's not even funny. Can't you see that? Look in the mirror, freaks.

[SingleWhiteMale]

Haha good stuff :) I like the old Burger King commercial about MEN that pissed off Feminists worldwide.

[SouthJerseySteve]

Whopper Virgins!? No wonder these remote villages have no need for cardiologists!

[JScott]

Burger King seems to get a string of lame adverts and this can be added to it-anyone remember the Where's Herb campaign, and that live action 'Burger King' guy is just downright creepy.

And yup one could criticize their food with the usual criticisms, I don't make it a regular meal, only go their rarely. If I wanna get a good burger I'd rather go to In & Out or Tommy's in L A.

[zenwhenicanbe2]

"It's outrageous," said Sharon Akabas of the Institute of Human Nutrition at Columbia University. "What's next? Are we going to start taking guns out to some of these remote places and ask them which one they like better?"

Sharon, stay with me here sweetheart we can get through this thing. Okay tell me one more time, what the hell are you talking about?!

[skahimself]

Whats next?

Are we going to start taking nuclear bombs out to some of these remote places and ask them with one they like better?

Are we going to start taking designer waterboards out to some of these remote places and ask them with one they like better?

Are we going to start taking competing versions of crystal meth out to some of these remote places and ask them with one they like better?

This lady is insane.

[GayIthacan]

I suppose the next step is to go into intensive care units and find out which foods kill the recovering patients less quickly.

The ads are not the least bit funny. They are unethical - pure and simple.

[SingleWhiteMale]

This moral repudiation brought to you by a Gay Ithacan.

[editor]

I think they will prefer to go back to eating their wheatgrass and not getting severe heart disease.

[leftLibertarian]

And some people don't have a sense of humor.

Next............

[CaptainHowdy]

Yawn...

[PoorManPoorMan2009]

Both BK and McD are crap.........................

[carrieanna]

Burger King would be better off in trying to convince me that their restaurants aren't cockroach-infested and filthy dirty in order to try and get me to eat there again. Who cares how good something tastes when you're afraid of the cleanliness of the cooking and eating environment.