A KFC advert featuring Port Adelaide’s AFL stars has been removed from the internet after claims the video was racist. But not everyone is finding it offensive.
KFC is sponsoring shorts for Port Adelaide, which will play Hawthorn in the final at Adelaide Oval on Friday evening.
The fast food chain also sponsors the Hawks, along with Collingwood and Richmond.
The scrapped advert is a new addition to the ‘Fried Night Footy’ series that has been airing for several years in both the AFL and NRL in Australia.
In this version, Port Adelaide star Aliir Aliir points to a bucket of KFC products as Power colleagues Miles Bergman, Ebony O’Dea and Ashleigh Saint approach him in a corridor.
He then runs away to indicate that he doesn’t want to share the chicken, while his clubmates chase after him as the Friday Night Football jingle plays.
The video lasts just five seconds and was posted to social media on Thursday, but disappeared again on Friday.
There is still a thumbnail of the original ad on TikTok, but if you click on the link you will see a message that says “video currently unavailable.”
Port Adelaide player Aliir Aliir features in now-removed KFC advert
Next up are port players Miles Bergman, Ebony O’Dea and Ashleigh Saint, eager to get some of the chicken Aliir Aliir is carrying, but he’s in no mood to share.
TikTok user manliketats called the video racist because of American stereotypes regarding fried chicken and African American people
However, the video has been online for so long that some people have ripped it, including a TikTok user named manliketats, an Australian with a Zimbabwean mother.
“KFC, KFC, KFC, to say I’m disappointed is an understatement,” he said in a reaction video.
“To say I’m disgusted is an understatement. Have you forgotten what year it is?
‘We’re in 2024. This kind of thing can’t happen anymore. We’re not in 2003 anymore.
“No matter how true this video is, it’s 2024 and everyone is going to have a problem with this.”
Aliir Aliir was born in Kenya to South Sudanese parents who fled the Sudanese civil war and moved to Australia when he was only eight years old.
The stereotype that fried chicken is associated with black people stems from the racist history of the United States.
Racist caricatures and images in media such as minstrel shows and early films exaggerated and mocked African American culture. Often food was used as a means to demean and dehumanize.
Football fans were divided, with some calling the video racist, while others said it was harmless.
This led to some football fans accusing KFC of using Aliir Aliir in the now-removed advert.
“The racism at KFC, smh,” one commenter posted.
“No, they did that on purpose,” wrote another.
“I can imagine black people feeling offended,” added another.
However, the vast majority of football fans defended both Aliir Aliir and KFC, saying that the ad is in no way offensive.
“I think it’s even more racist to not let Aliir Aliir earn sponsorship money just because he’s black,” said one football fan in the reaction video on TikTok.
“It’s Australia where this stereotype only applies to Americans,” added another.
“I can imagine black people being offended, but look at it this way: maybe he really loves KFC and wanted to sponsor them, and now he loses a sponsor,” suggested another.
“Mate Aliir has been the target of racism before. I’m sure if he didn’t want to do it because it’s racist he wouldn’t have done it,” another commenter posted.
Aliir Aliir has been used in KFC promotions before with no negative reactions, this advert is still on the Port Adelaide X page
Aliir Aliir will play a crucial role for Port Adelaide in the elimination final against Hawthorn on Friday night
KFC Australia has been contacted for comment.
This is not the first time that Aliir Aliir has been involved in a KFC promotion.
He entered the Ultimate Footy Bucket List competition held in June, where football fans could win a year’s supply of KFC drinks and the chance to meet the Power star.
He was photographed smiling in the promotion, but there was no negative reaction whatsoever.
Port Adelaide play the Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on Friday night, with a chance of a place in the preliminary final at stake.