3. Emobile Slaps A Suit On A Monkey, Becomes Obama
Another awkwardly conceived advert. This time from Japan and depicting then-Presidential candidate Barack Obama as a macaque monkey. Jesus... The advert caused a huge amount of controversy and was hurriedly removed from the airwaves. However, Emobile contest that the advert wasn't intended to be racist (which, admittedly, would be any company's response) and that they have a history of using the macaque monkey to imitate other famous people in their commercials. It seems plausible that no ill intent was present; the monkey is thought of somewhat differently in Japan being held in high spiritual regard by the significantly larger Buddhist population. In any event, it comes across as bizarrely stupid to the Western eye and as good as reason as any for Emobile to employ an extra person to make sure their adverts don't come across as... well, insanely racist. Also, on a side note, we're pretty confused as to what the advert is trying to get across and we're unconvinced it would be any clearer in English.