racist mobile phone commercial

[maogirl]

Hello!

Sorry to start off like this. I registered ages ago when the site just started and have never really posted. I used to post at MM.com (and have posted this there as well), but I was told that the people here are more likely to act on what I'm proposing.

I live in Italy, and it's one of the most racist countries I've ever lived in (and I've lived in 5 by now). Ridiculing Asians is considered acceptable and it's common for me to encounter someone saying "sushi sushi" or pulling their eyes up at me at least once a day. The media also encourages this behaviour by making fun of Asians (mocking their accents, etc.).

The reason I'm posting is there is a commercial for TIM (Telecom Italia's mobile phone service which is available throughout Europe and Latin America) that shows a Brazilian model, Adriana Lima, dressing up in different costumes for her boyfriend, one of the costumes being the "Oriental" fantasy one, and then pulling up her eyes to look "Asian."

As you all must realize, this is fucking racist on so many fucking levels.

Please write to Telecom Italia with the subject heading: RACISMO NELLA TIM PUBBLICITA, and please continue with the content in English. I'm pretty sure they'll get it.

Website: http://www.telecomitalia.it/cgi-bin/tiportale/TIPortale/ep/start.do?LANG=EN

Email
website@mail.tim.it

webeditor@telecomitalia.it

Also, the song being used for the commercial is by Good Charlotte. As the band recently performed at an Asian tsunami benefit, I seriously doubt they'll want to be linked to a commercial like this. Please write to them, as well.

http://www.goodcharlotte.com

Thanks, and this site seems pretty nice, so I'll stick around and post more. If anyone wants to ask me more about the commercial or Italy, etc. please feel free.

[awong]

i sent my email to the company.

still have to do the good charlotte one.

gotta think of something to say and avoid saying their music sucks...lol they just suck really bad, lol. I'll figure it out after I nap.

[maogirl]

thanks, a!

i think their music is...*thinks diplomatically*...not to my taste either, but they seem like funny guys.

[King_Kai]

Is there a link to the commercial?

[maogirl]

i've been searchign for one but i'm on dial up and can't really work the internet.

it's one of a series called "mi prendi, ti sposo" which means, "if you catch me, i'll marry you." yeah, i know...superlame.

maybe you can google it?

funny enough, good charlotte are in italy right now. i hope they see the commercial.

[Alexcism]

So many people to be killed. So little resources.

[Xenzu]

Italians can sometimes be a complete pain in the arse.

Australian-born Italians are usually ok but the number of times I've had Italian-born Italians rushing to assure me that Italians invented pasta (and not the Chinese)....

I'm sometimes tempted to bait them - there's this one guy out at Robertson who runs a cafe and presumed to lecture me on the point that Italians invented the espresso machine at the 1900 World's Fair or somesuch nonsense - next time I'm out there, I'm tempted to have a bit of fun with him by reminding him that Marco Polo brought spaghetti back to Italy from China.

I mean, who gives a shit anyway? :roll:

[maogirl]

yeah, i know...i get that a lot, too "oh, you chinese people think you invented everythign, here's what WE did."

YAWN.

i'll be so glad to get out of europe...i don't know why but a lot of bad shit has happened to me here. i don't know if it's just racially motivated or if i just look like an easy mark.

[Xenzu]

And some of the worst behaviour I've heard of is when some Italian football fans hurl bananas onto the field whenever one of the opposing team's African players gets the ball.

But, then again, I've heard of similar incidents at British matches as well.

[Xenzu]

i'll be so glad to get out of europe...i don't know why but a lot of bad shit has happened to me here. i don't know if it's just racially motivated or if i just look like an easy mark.

I can imagine - I was in Europe for a month last year and I mostly had pretty good experiences. On the other hand, I can also see how the whole experience could wear thin after a while.

Germans, for instance, can be very charming and gracious but they can sometimes also be very, very tight-arsed. And rude. And insular. :lol:

[Altaira]

Adriana Lima should also be targeted for agreeing to the commercial. She's famous and should know better. I mean she should know better to begin with.

[maogirl]

Adriana Lima should also be targeted for agreeing to the commercial. She's famous and should know better. I mean she should know better to begin with.


yeah, i agree. at the same time, she's a model and doesn't seem very bright. i suspect that the director told her "yeah, you look hot in that oriental dress! now go do something oriental!" and voila, the pulling of the eyes.

however, in editing, they should've gotten rid of it. by showing the commercial regardless, they're showing their lack of respect and their contempt for asians.

[tonic]

email sent

lets shut these fuckers down