KFC Christmas Carol Commercial Did Not Offend Christians, UK Advertising Standards Group Rules
A KFC Christmas commercial did not offend Christians, concluded the UK's Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) earlier this week.
The ASA opened a formal investigation into the commercial in January, after 25 complaints had been filed arguing that a line in the commercial's jingle was offensive to Christians.
In the commercial's second scene, carolers arrive at a man's house singing, "We showed up at your house again singing all your stupid songs."
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The man responds by singing, "Normally I'd hose you down but now it just seems wrong."
The scene had some claiming that the line "all our stupid songs" had made fun of Christian Christmas hymns, and was therefore offensive to them.
According to Marketing Week, the ASA concluded that the lyric was "ironic" and had not caused "widespread offense."
The Church of England called the ad the "kind of schmaltz that might leave you reaching for a bucket, though not necessarily a bucket of chicken," while a spokesperson for the Church compared it to "Glee and High School Musical rather than Kings College Cambridge or 9 Lessons and Carols."
The ad has more than 600,000 views on YouTube and over 900,000 Likes on Facebook.
The song also pokes fun at Christmas' consumeristic culture. "I almost tore your hair for the last doll in the store," one woman sings, while her toy rival adds, "But the things that once divided us don't matter anymore."
A little child sitting on Santa's lap tells him, "I scream and cry and leave a wet spot on your knee," to which Santa replies, "But this year your behavior doesn't bother me."
The commercial suggests that KFC could help reconcile estranged parties during the holidays.
"One thing I'd wish we'd all agree / the delicious taste of KFC," individuals sing sitting around the table. "Typically I hate your guts and I'd try to kill you but one of everyone's vices is lemons, herbs and spices."
