No, because those are very old men who have not been relevant for many, many years. Weezy/Lil’ Wayne is a current, popular artist who people under 40 actually recognize.
Give me some credit… I’m over 50 and know him and his career.
I would though actually bet you that Aerosmith or the Rolling Stones would get a bigger gate than Lil’ Wayne currently.
My point is that if it was a more recognized (by the old folks) white rock star would it still be considered racist if they were making fun of their supposed extravagant lifestyle?
Nm
A lot of commercials use a celebrity spokesperson and I thought the context of this one made it fairly clear, even if you don’t know who Li’l Wayne is, that he’s a celebrity.
If you depict George W. Bush as a chimpanzee, would it be racist?
If you depict Barack Obama and/or his wife as a chimpanzee, would it be racist?
You have to remember that there are a lot of people who are not as hip as some people in this thread. If you don’t know who L’il Wayne is, then all you see is some actors behaving like children. For quite a long time in this country African-Americans were considered like children who needed to be protected. It was one of the ‘justifications’ for slavery. Sure, if you’re one of the Cool Kids you’ll know who Li’l Wayne is and you’ll ‘get it’. Without that knowledge the commercial is seen in an entirely different context.
Sure, it plays right into the age-old stereoptype of African-American adults as children who like to make messes when they buy cellphones.
Isn’t L’il Wayne like 35 now, and of normal stature? Shouldn’t he be “Big Wayne?” Or at least “Normal-sized Wayne?”
He appears to be under 5’8" so I think the moniker still fits.
Just admit you made an error and jumped to conclusions. Stop digging yourself any deeper. *You *not knowing a famous celebrity does not change the meaning of the commercial for the general audience.
It doesn’t change the meaning of the commercial for the general audience who is aware of who the celebrity is. I admit that not knowing who he was made me perceive the commercial differently from people tho do know him. But not knowing then who this person was doesn’t change the fact that I didn’t know then who this person was.
I suspect that even most of those who didn’t know who Li’l Wayne is could tell by the fancy house and champagne that he was a rich and famous person.
Frankly, I wouldn’t see any racism even if he wasn’t a famous rapper.
It was my impression before I was told he was ‘famous’. YMMV.
Right, they’re in a fancy house and pouring champagne; even if I hadn’t recognized Lil Wayne, I would have thought it was actors playing the roles of rapper and his entourage, or otherwise rich characters having fun with their cool toys. And it is cool if you can dunk your phone in water or pour liquid over it, I’m a nerdy white woman and I might pour some of my Diet Dr. Pepper over my new phone if I knew it could withstand it.
There are still plenty of commercials that play into stereotypes and it bothers me, I definitely don’t automatically dismiss concerns as being too sensitive, but I’m just not seeing any issue here.
What do you think your impression of this commercial would be if you didn’t know who Charlie Sheen was? Would it be racist about rich white assholes?
Plus Lil’ Wayne is a Junior. It’s not uncommon for a Junior to go by Lil’ Name to differentiate between father and son.
Until he has a son and names him Wayne III. Then what? Micro Wayne?
“Other Wayne”
Or his dad can be A Wayne
He becomes B Wayne
His son is C Wayne
And his grandson becomes Dwayne and the cycle can repeat.
Thank. I couldn’t figure that out on my own, but was able to figure to check the oil & gasoline levels in my car. :o
Yes, it’s set in a fancy, expensive house. Which means that the apparent message, to anyone who doesn’t know who Lil’ Wayne is, is “this is what happens when you let those savages into your nice house: They’ll pour champagne all over everything and wreck your nice toys (unless you get our fancy unwreckable toys)”.