Twitter Roasts Dodge Ram For Using MLK Speech to Hawk Trucks in Super Bowl Ad
We are all built to serve, but it takes will and courage to do what’s right. Tell us how you aid your community with #RamBuiltToServe and watch our Big Game moments here: https://t.co/MNjwAXYmXw #SBLII pic.twitter.com/BcWTZectHq
— RamTrucks (@RamTrucks) February 5, 2018
After Dodge Ram featured Martin Luther King Jr’s voice in a truck advertisement that aired during the Super Bowl, the car manufacter was immediately roasted on Twitter for using the civil rights icon to push their product.
The clip went featured the following quote from King:
“Recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant…That’s your new definition of greatness — it means that everybody can be great because everybody can serve.”
MLK’s speech is played over clips of members of the military, football players, fishermen, business professionals, and other normal Americans carrying out their everyday duties, then a Ram truck comes into the frame.
The ad, which concludes with the slogan,”Built to Serve,” was viciously mocked by journalists, pundits, and others who felt the company incorrectly used MLK’s likeness for their own corporate, promotional purposes:
“And now, your Super Bowl halftime performers: Justin Timberlake and a hologram of Martin Luther King Jr talking about how much he loves his new Dodge Ram.”
— Jess Dweck (@TheDweck) February 5, 2018
This Dodge Ram ad was offensive and you should be ashamed #sblii https://t.co/sgwfXpITXM
— Oliver Willis (@owillis) February 5, 2018
Now that Martin Luther King is endorsing a pickup truck from beoynd the grave i think we can all declare racism offically dead
— PFTCommenter (@PFTCommenter) February 5, 2018
That MLK ad just gave me cancer
— The FBI is bad, actually (@EoinHiggins_) February 5, 2018
lmao who told the car company that invoking mlk for their commercial was smart?!
— Alex Press (@alexnpress) February 5, 2018
using mlk to sell cars is completely ridiculous
— John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) February 5, 2018
MLK’s dying words: “Tell…tell J.D. Power…my vote is for Dodge Ram.”
— JPFreeeeeeezing ☃️ (@JoannePistonFan) February 5, 2018
Always nice to see MLK appropriated for selling cars in the Superbowl. Because, really, isn’t that was he fighting for in the end? Making money.
— Existential Comics (@existentialcoms) February 5, 2018
“I have a dream. A dream of more horsepower and greater torque in a dependable pickup truck.”
— Existential Comics (@existentialcoms) February 5, 2018
“Had to grind for this view.” — Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. pic.twitter.com/WCHLeDmMiU
— Matt Christman (@cushbomb) February 5, 2018
Boycotting the football to honor our troops and cops, watching the commercials to honor our troops and cops.
— David Roth (@david_j_roth) February 5, 2018
Hi. Martin Luther King here for Dodge Ram.
— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) February 5, 2018
Hi. Martin Luther King here for Dodge Ram.
— Peter Hamby (@PeterHamby) February 5, 2018
Not sure MLK’s dream was to drive a Dodge Ram.
— ItsTheReal (@itsthereal) February 5, 2018
The worst commercials are those that use icons like Martin Luther King Jr to sell things like a Dodge Ram truck.
— Matt Viser (@mviser) February 5, 2018
If you thought that MLK/Dodge commercial was bad, just wait until you see the upcoming Carl’s Jr. ad starring Gandhi.
— (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) February 5, 2018
That Dodge ad was the Nunes Memo of ads.
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) February 5, 2018
Watch above, via NBC.
[images via screengrab]
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