# Dunkin' Donuts Does Blackface in Thailand **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 31, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655 "2013-08-31T13:31:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 9:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/21 "2013-09-01T09:35:25Z")
Those who are looking for reasons to be offended might enjoy [Cafe Jazz Populart](http://www.populart.es/) in Madrid. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 11:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/22 "2013-09-01T11:15:47Z")
So the wife and I were out and about today and at one point found ourselves outside a Dunkin’ Donuts. For research purposes, I purchased half a dozen charcoal doughnuts, two each of three different styles, but all blacker than a coal mine at midnight. It is some sort of chocolate cake doughnut, and the wife remarked on the blackness of the product. They’re having a big promotion, with a special black box for them, and the boxes contain two coupons for 50% off of a half-dozen regular doughnuts of any type until the end of next January. As well, there’s a special little charcoal-black teddy bear you can buy, but I didn’t pick up one of those. Sadly, the girl in the ad was not present. They’re not bad, a good basic doughnut as far as Dunkin’ Donuts goes. I would not have thought to buy anything if it hadn’t been for the kerfuffle, so it’s worked out for them. Now I’m just a little bit fatter and Dunkin’ Donuts that much richer. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/23 "2013-09-01T11:24:19Z")
Is everybody in this thread aware that perceiving a “blackface” as offensive is an American cultural artefact and not universal? I thought I would mention it since it came up in a thread some months ago that some people assumed this was considered offensive everywhere (an American poster had seen someone in blackface in Spain and had assumed this was an evidence of insensitivity to racial issues or possibly plain racism). ---
**Author:** ![Don\_t\_Panic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/don_t_panic/32/398_2.png) [@Don\_t\_Panic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_t_Panic)\ **Post date:** [September 1, 2013, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/24 "2013-09-01T12:16:05Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Is everybody in this thread aware that perceiving a “blackface” as offensive is an American cultural artefact and not universal? [Zwarte Piet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zwarte_Piet) is still a thing in the Netherlands. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/25 "2013-09-06T15:50:08Z")
A somewhat humorous commentary on the controversy: [Driving me (dough)nuts!](http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/368291/driving-me-dough-nuts) ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/26 "2013-09-06T19:20:17Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Is everybody in this thread aware that perceiving a “blackface” as offensive is an American cultural artefact and not universal? > > I thought I would mention it since it came up in a thread some months ago that some people assumed this was considered offensive everywhere (an American poster had seen someone in blackface in Spain and had assumed this was an evidence of insensitivity to racial issues or possibly plain racism). I think most people are aware. The problem here is that Dunkin’ Donuts is an American company and so are presumably held to American standards. Or are they? I think that’s what the issue here boils down to. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2013, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/27 "2013-09-06T20:07:50Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I think most people are aware. The problem here is that Dunkin’ Donuts is an American company and so are presumably held to American standards. Or are they? I think that’s what the issue here boils down to. It’s a conflict between head office and a national franchise in Thailand. > [@](#): > > The US headquarters of Dunkin’ Donuts did issue an apology shortly after by tweeting, “We are working with our Thailand franchisee to immediately pull the ad. DD recognises the insensitivity of this spot.” > > The chief executive for Dunkin’ Donuts in Thailand was less than sympathetic by calling the outrage “paranoid American thinking”. In summary, it appears that the Thailand franchise has lots of latitude to make up its own ad champaign and possibly they never passed it by head office - which is now telling them to pull it. As for the ad - my impression is the model is damned hot. 😉 I did not immediately think of “Blackface” so much as science-fiction. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/28 "2013-09-07T15:26:42Z")
> [@suranyi](#): > > I think most people are aware. The problem here is that Dunkin’ Donuts is an American company and so are presumably held to American standards. Or are they? I think that’s what the issue here boils down to. > [@Malthus](#): > > It’s a conflict between head office and a national franchise in Thailand. > [@](#): > > The US headquarters of Dunkin’ Donuts did issue an apology shortly after by tweeting, “We are working with our Thailand franchisee to immediately pull the ad. DD recognises the insensitivity of this spot.” > > The chief executive for Dunkin’ Donuts in Thailand was less than sympathetic by calling the outrage “paranoid American thinking”. > [@Malthus](#): > > In summary, it appears that the Thailand franchise has lots of latitude to make up its own ad champaign and possibly they never passed it by head office - which is now telling them to pull it. Precisely what I thought, and alluded to upthread. ---
**Author:** ![Onomatopoeia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/onomatopoeia/32/4145_2.png) [@Onomatopoeia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Onomatopoeia)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/29 "2013-09-07T15:29:23Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > Maybe Thailand’s tourist board might find it worth their while to target foreigners who find it tedious and annoying, in their own countries, to be perpetually pressurised toward political correctness in word and deed, and to always have to watch their step as regards that issue. So, basically an overt appeal to racists. You know what? It’d probably work. ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/30 "2013-09-07T16:06:00Z")
I think the lips are intended to match the color of the DD logo. I don’t see it as blackface - don’t see it as offensive, and if it was done outside the US - don’t see why anyone would care. Now I’m hungry and want a donut. ---
**Author:** ![vontsira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/51bf81/32.png) [@vontsira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vontsira)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/31 "2013-09-07T16:26:31Z")
> [@Onomatopoeia](#): > > So, basically an overt appeal to racists. You know what? It’d probably work. Who’d care? They’d only be there briefly – if they had any sense, they’d be polite-ish to their direct hosts – plenty of cash into the local economy, “blackface” and “Hitler Chicken” practitioners would benefit – everyone would be happy. ---
**Author:** ![Scholar\_Beardpig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@Scholar\_Beardpig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scholar_Beardpig)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2013, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/32 "2013-09-07T16:45:15Z")
> [@vontsira](#): > > There comes to mind: one hears of “smokers’ holidays” – package deals for groups of smokers from countries where their habit is fiercely opposed, to go on holiday to a country where smoking is widely engaged in and largely accepted; gives them a break from being endlessly on the receiving end of criticism and hostility. Maybe Thailand’s tourist board might find it worth their while to target foreigners who find it tedious and annoying, in their own countries, to be perpetually pressurised toward political correctness in word and deed, and to always have to watch their step as regards that issue. (I’m not implying approval of smoking, or of people being crass and insensitive – just observing a possible money-making opportunity for the Thais.) I can’t help but appreciate the symmetry of the fact that Thailand is extremely anti-smoking now; I was there a month ago to visit a doctor and couldn’t smoke much of anywhere. Damn it, it’s no good getting a foot massage if I can’t have a cigarette the while! ---
**Author:** ![Reyemile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/46a35a/32.png) [@Reyemile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reyemile)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/33 "2013-09-08T02:35:16Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > Possibly. High-contrast lips are more reminiscent of historic blackface and could serve as a trigger to those for whom it is objectionable. This was my impression. If they’d chosen the orange rather than the pink in the dunkin label, it would probably have been less bad–or, as others have suggested, all black. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [September 12, 2013, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655/34 "2013-09-12T20:13:56Z")
The ad’s saving grace is that the model’s **entire** body is painted black (or at least the impression given is that she is entirely painted black). This IMO says to me that it was not intended to be blackface, whether intentionally or not. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dunkin-donuts-does-blackface-in-thailand/667655.md?page=1)