So I stumbled upon a news brief about DirectTV removing an ad from YouTube because “the content of the associated posts was developing into an R-rated dialogue that had nothing to do with the spot itself.” A DirectTV spokesman said that the campaign was “tongue-in-cheek comedy”. The ad is a blinged out boxer named Tommy “the Truth” Thompson who apparently smiles after the little boy character Half Truth punches an elderly white waiter at the end of the commercial. The ad is no longer available on YouTube but this version is:
To me, I’m not seeing anything different here from what you see on BET or in Hollywood depictions of a black boxer. Since the video was taken down, I can’t see what comments were made exactly but according to AdWeek there were accusations that the commercial fed into stereotypes, racism, reverse racism and even elder abuse. I guess I know what the big deal is but I’m still trying to figure out what was the big deal? Who was making these comments? Reverse racism is non-existent. These are the same stereotypes we find in other commercials, music videos, TV sitcoms, movies, etc. Where is the “anger” about this coming from in isolation from all this other stuff? So DirectTV removed the ad from YouTube although they still plan to use the campaign what has been achieved? What has changed?
Zahra Gordon 
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