I considered subtitling this “Why I Will Never Visit Burger King Again,” but that seems alarmist. However, I am shocked that BK–even though this is from Singapore and not being used in the US (yet)–OK’d such provocative marketing for a saucy new menu item with such “hard” sell. Literally.
With as much subtly as a ton of bricks, the tag line “It’ll blow your mind away,” is conveniently placed below a wide-mouthed hottie just waiting to gorge on a hot, meaty torpedo–mayo conspicuously dripping from the bun. If that’s not explicit enough, the copy “Fill your desire for something long, juicy and flame-grilled with the NEW BK SUPER SEVEN INCHER” should complete the puzzle.
Sadly, BK is not alone. Quiznos ran a racy commercial for sandwiches where an oven talks to a sandwich maker and says “put it in me”. Calvin Klein last week featured a canoodling foursome hanging high over Times Square that was pulled before huge controversy ensued.
I suppose sex sells, but I wonder to whom. Not me, and not my friends. After all, if you need hamburgers to make you horny, you’ve got much bigger problems.