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Yao Ming either likes beef or Satan

yaomingbeefchina011007.jpgFrom the One Billion Users blog:

The caption from this authentic unretouched Chinese promotional postcard for McDonalds says something about how "Beef makes you strong." For an American (or at least me) looking at this, I see Yao Ming in a demonic horned salute (or a Longhorn fan) to Satan having already sold his soul to the dark one for fame and victory. The background shadow of a looming horned figure seems to confirm that the possession of his soul has already taken place.

Do I believe some conspiracy of evil has sent a message to 1.4 billion people leading them to the dark side of the soul? I doubt it. Regardless of how you feel about multinational conglomerates, this represents to me an example of weak due dilligence and research on the part of the local agency that did this ad for McDonalds. Regardless of the market and target consumer, all ads have become global thanks to the pervasiveness of the Internet. A simple focus group with foreigners probably would have uncovered the unintentional satanic overtones of this ad. Maybe I'm too critical but companies and multimillionaire athletes need to protect their brand.

We wonder what most Chinese think when they first see this hand gesture — surely not the intended hook 'em horns, right? Maybe they just think Yao likes heavy metal (or the devil) or maybe they mistakenly think he's a hippie at heart or perhaps some assume, as we do, that Yao is a Buddha capable of expelling demons.

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By Dan Washburn in , , , on January 10, 2007 2:00 PM

Comments [rss]

  • lovely

    Actually, that hand gesture means "I Love You" If you look closely, you see the L and the U. I forget which part is suppose to be the I.

  • lexi

    the longhorns sign doesnt have a thumb in it... just a fore and pinky finger. still funny though.

  • How do you know that its really 1.3 billion. When was the last time China had a comprehensive census, particularly of the rural areas where birth rates are higher....i mean since it consists of 80% fat americans

  • Kat

    Hey man, the population here is 1.3billion but not 1.4billion...

  • lexi

    actually, the longhorns sign doesnt include a thumb... just a fore and pinky finger. still funny though.

  • Jay

    In the old Chinese saying, "as strong as an ox" is just like "strong like a horse" in English. So, the first impression of this ad to most Chinese would be "strong".

  • Di

    My apologies i forgot that 80% of McDonalds customers in China are fat ass Americans.

  • guess what...China is multicultural. As for Frisco, its Asian population is pretty high as well.



    btw...I'm Chinese American so you really mean local mainland urban youth Chinese right?

  • Di

    Well you people out there, i tought that was a funny article till i read those lines:"Regardless of the market and target consumer, all ads have become global thanks to the pervasiveness of the Internet. A simple focus group with foreigners probably would have uncovered the unintentional satanic overtones of this ad."

    YOU ARE LIVING IN CHINA...sorry for those who thought they landed in Frisco. WHICH MEANS guess what, IT IS AIMED AT CHINESE PEOPLE wow amazing. Cultures share different values, perceptions, therefore this ad may totally fit the Chinese market...sorry for the narrow minded dumbass expats out there...

  • Cool, you found more context for the hand horns aswell. You also did a great job of lightening the picture which was too dark. This ad campaign is over a year old, but the picture postcard that I had fell from my desk only 2 weeks ago when I was doing my end of year cleaning.

    -frank

  • Tiffany

    This ad is hilarious. It's going to be pulled so fast, Yao Ming's "satanic" head will spin!

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