Racist ad mocking Asian man named ‘Ping Pong’ banned by advertising watchdog
The advertising watchdog has ordered a racist radio ad – which features an Asian man calling a concreting company for assistance because “Mama has bog in driveway” – off the air.
The ad was found to have breached rules on the grounds of discrimination and racial vilification.
The ad for TP Concreting in Kingaroy, Queensland, features the man speaking with an Asian accent and calling himself ‘Ping Pong’, demanding the company fix his driveway right away and offering them sushi.
In the background, a woman, who the man says is his mother, appears to be speaking “gibberish”.
“Mama has bog in driveway,” the man tells the concreting company, followed by a voiceover that says no job is “too weird”.
The ad ran on Kingaroy Hot FM in Queensland in November and the advertiser responded to the complaint denying it was racist and sexist.
“The ad you are referring to is not racist or degrading in any way, not sexist, and the language is English with an accent,” the advertiser said in its response.
“When it mentions food it is no different than saying a Vegemite sandwich.”
However, the ASB rejected the defence, saying the imputations in the ad were clear.
“The majority of the Board noted that while imitating an accent is not of itself discriminatory, ‘Ping Pong’ is not an Asian name: it is an offensive term that can be used to refer to a person of Asian descent,” it said in its determination.
“The Board noted that while Mr Ping Pong speaks English, albeit grammatically incorrect, in the background we can hear his mother speaking and considered that the words she speaks are not identifiable as any known language but rather it sounds like she is speaking gibberish.
“The majority of the Board considered that the advertisement normalises making fun of a person’s English language skills.”
It went on to say the ad mocked Asians because it suggested an Asian woman would go to the toilet in a driveway.
While the ASB said that each of the elements of the ad may not be considered racist in isolation, the combination created a racist message.
“The majority of the Board, however, noted cumulative effect of the man’s fake accent, the mother’s made up language, the naming of the man as ‘Mr Ping Pong’, the reference to the situation as ‘weird’ and the man’s offer of sushi and considered that this amounts to a suggestion that Asian people are being mocked,” it said.
“The advertisement presents Asian people in a manner which incites ridicule and that by mocking their command of English grammar and using a fake name, which is considered racist, rather than a real name, the advertisement is making fun of a difference between Western and Asian cultures which is humiliating for people of Asian descent.”
Responding to the determination, TP Concrete said the ad would no longer be run.
“We didn’t realise that it would in any way be inappropriate, we can see your point and are organising a new ad.”
Kingaroy you say? Queensland is it? What a shock.
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Little Britain has a character called Ting Tong, with a fake Asian accent and who stereotypes Asians yet you don’t hear calls for it to be banned. Hypocrisy.
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Well, you do… http://iaindale.com/posts/2014.....-questions
Hello Mr Lou Avery, Mickey Rooney called and wants his gags back.
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Ah well, that makes it ok then…
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But remember, this is Australia and we can’t be seen to be offensive to anyone. Which reminds me of a joke I heard in the UK: What’s the difference b/t a kangaroo and an Aussie? – The intelligent look on the kangaroo’s face! Was I offended? Nah. What’s the difference b/t a camel and an Arab? Whoops. can’t answer that one lest I offend someone!
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Mickey Rooney’s humour was from another century. Let’s all agree that racist/sexist tags are provocative and unhelpful AND importantly, unprofessional especially for a broadcaster to allow it to go to air.
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Jeff, jibes don’t hurt white Australian men because they haven’t faced discrimination. Water off a ducks back. You’re safe in the top spot long after the words have evaporated.
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Yes Pepsi Monster , we’re all backwards up here in Queensland. Ironic you’re condemning an Asian stereotype by making a stereotype about Queenslanders.
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Let us hear it.
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Hi Mark,
Unfortunately as the ad has been pulled from the airwaves, we don’t have access to it at this time.
If we track it down, we will update the story accordingly.
Thanks,
Vivienne – Mumbrella
So if I were to say all Australians are asshat racists, put it in a commercial advertising a product, that would be ok?
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I’m Asian. I’m not offended by any ad that mocks Asian ppl. We are living in the dumbest century in history of mankind. We are so stupid that we cannot differentiate between racism and plain humour.
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