Reuters: A Burger King advertisement in Spain for new Tex-Mex style hamburgers, which features a squat Mexican draped in his country's flag and an American cowboy, has offended Mexican officials who want the spot pulled.
Mexico's ambassador to Spain said posters for the new "Texican Whopper," a cheeseburger with chili and spicy mayonnaise, inappropriately displays the Mexican flag, which is draped over the diminutive wrestler like a poncho.
Burger King issued the following response:
Burger King Corporation (BKC) values and respects all of its guests as well as the countries and communities we serve. With regard to the Texican Whopper advertisement shown in Spain and the United Kingdom, it was our intention to promote a product whose culinary origin lies in both the American and Mexican cultures and was meant to appeal to those who enjoy the flavors and ingredients that each country offers.
BKC has made the decision to revise the Texican Whopper advertising creative out of respect for the Mexican culture and its people. The revised campaign will focus solely on the Texican Whopper sandwich and will not feature any characters or the use of the Mexican flag. The revised campaign will be on air and in restaurants as soon as commercially possible. The existing campaign falls fully within the legal parameters of the United Kingdom and Spain where the commercials are being aired and were not intended to offend anyone.
