Sports

<p>The Super Bowl: the pinnacle of football, advertisements, and controversy. Sunday night had its share of <a href="https://www.someecards.com/news/news/justin-timberlake-superbowl-halftime-show">highly debatable moments</a>, and the most eye-popping may have been Chrysler&#39;s ad for the Dodge Ram, a minute-long clip featuring Martin Luther King Jr.&#39;s &quot;Drum Major Instinct&quot; sermon played over images of athletes, soldiers, kids and, of course, a truck.</p><oembed>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlbY1tGARUA</oembed><p>Anyone watching the ad play out knew it would be a moment on Twitter.</p><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I’m sorry, they did *what* with MLK?</p>&mdash; Matt Pearce 🦅 (@mattdpearce) <a href="https://twitter.com/mattdpearce/status/960357084729548800?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div className="ad-splitter"></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">OMG someone overlayed that ridiculous Dodge/MLK ad with what King actually said about capitalism and car commercials <a href="https://t.co/9IB528mCyt">pic.twitter.com/9IB528mCyt</a></p>&mdash; Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) <a href="https://twitter.com/AsteadWesley/status/960378578138484737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The MLK ad.<br><br>The Budweiser ad.<br><br>The Hyundai ad.<br><br>Let’s call out <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CreepyCapitalism?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CreepyCapitalism</a>. Don’t exploit social inequality issues and suffering for profit.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperBowl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperBowl</a></p>&mdash; Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) <a href="https://twitter.com/cmclymer/status/960350403245297664?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div className="ad-splitter"></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am not watching the Superbowl and on Twitter it sounds a nihilistic shitshow. MLK is being used to sell cars? Trump nuclear war jokes to sell grills? All this is actually happening?</p>&mdash; Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) <a href="https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/960342677819723776?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The blatant commodification of black culture, black struggle and black pain illustrates perfectly how America is perfectly willing to exploit blackness but perfectly incapable of honoring it. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/DodgeRam?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#DodgeRam</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLK</a></p>&mdash; Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) <a href="https://twitter.com/CharlesMBlow/status/960324536192438272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div className="ad-splitter"></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Dodge ad with MLK was repulsive. It’s important to remember this is what corporations do. They digest progress and sell it back to us. 1/</p>&mdash; Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) <a href="https://twitter.com/JYSexton/status/960504439990816769?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">*ad person slides into bed with spouse*<br>SPOUSE: How was your ad during the super bowl<br>AD PERSON: Too nervous! I didn’t watch! I’m sure nobody even saw it<br>SPOUSE: Nooo. I’m sure people loved it. It’s a lovely idea<br>AD PERSON: (sign) I guess I’ll just see tomorrow if MLK sells cars</p>&mdash; Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) <a href="https://twitter.com/MikeDrucker/status/960354285879005186?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div className="ad-splitter"></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I wish MLK was still alive so we could buy matching Dodge Rams and go fishing together and haul shit around and whatnot.</p>&mdash; George Wallace (@MrGeorgeWallace) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrGeorgeWallace/status/960368931335630848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I&#39;d say, &quot;Hey MLK I gotta chop some wood but my Dodge Ram may not be able to handle all the wood I chop&quot; and MLK would be like, &quot;Let me meet you down there by the wood chopping area with my matching Dodge Ram.&quot; We&#39;d haul the wood then go fight for civil rights later that day.</p>&mdash; George Wallace (@MrGeorgeWallace) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrGeorgeWallace/status/960370324154888192?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div className="ad-splitter"></div><p><strong>When someone called out MLK&#39;s kids for allowing the use of his voice, Bernice King weighed in with a simple answer:</strong></p><oembed>https://twitter.com/youngsinick/status/960313837177188354</oembed><oembed>https://twitter.com/youngsinick/status/960314579912929280</oembed><div className="ad-splitter"></div><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="und" dir="ltr">No.</p>&mdash; Be A King (@BerniceKing) <a href="https://twitter.com/BerniceKing/status/960320718922813440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><p>According to <a href="http://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/ram-defends-mlk-super-bowl-ad-estate-approved/312251/" target="_blank">Ad Age</a>, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles defended the ad in the midst of the social media backlash, saying they did work with King&#39;s estate on the spot.</p><p>&quot;It is 50 years to the day that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave such a tremendous speech about the value of service,&quot; they said. The statement went on:</p><blockquote> <p>Ram was honored to have the privilege of working with the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. to celebrate those words during the largest TV viewing event annually. We worked closely with the representatives of the Martin Luther King Jr. estate to receive the necessary approvals and estate representatives were a very important part of the creative process every step of the way.</p> </blockquote><div className="ad-splitter"></div><p>The King Center, founded by Coretta Scott King, also denied involvement:</p><div class="oembedall-container sec-iframe sec-oembed-iframe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Neither <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKingCenter?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TheKingCenter</a> nor <a href="https://twitter.com/BerniceKing?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BerniceKing</a> is the entity that approves the use of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MLK?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MLK</a>’s words or imagery for use in merchandise, entertainment (movies, music, artwork, etc) or advertisement, including tonight’s <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodge?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Dodge</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SuperBowl?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SuperBowl</a> commercial.</p>&mdash; The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheKingCenter/status/960328987955335174?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 5, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div className="ad-splitter"></div>

Chrysler defends itself against backlash over using MLK to sell Ram Trucks in Super Bowl ad.

The Super Bowl: the pinnacle of football, advertisements, and controversy. Sunday night had its share of highly debatable moments, and the most eye-popping may have been Chrysler&#39;s ad for the Dodge Ram, a minute-long clip featuring Martin Luther King Jr.&#39;s &quot;Drum Major Instinct&quot; sermon played over images of athletes, soldiers, kids and, of course, a truck.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlbY1tGARUAAnyone watching the ad play out knew it would be a moment on Twitter.I’m sorry, they did *what* with MLK?&mdash; Matt Pearce 🦅 (@mattdpearce) February 5, 2018 OMG someone overlayed that ridiculous Dodge/MLK ad with what King actually said about capitalism and car commercials pic.twitter.com/9IB528mCyt&mdash; Steadman™ (@AsteadWesley) February 5, 2018 The MLK ad.The Budweiser ad.The Hyundai ad.Let’s call out #CreepyCapitalism. Don’t exploit social inequality issues and suffering for profit.#SuperBowl&mdash; Charlotte Clymer 🏳️‍🌈 (@cmclymer) February 5, 2018 I am not watching the Superbowl and on Twitter it sounds a nihilistic shitshow. MLK is being used to sell cars? Trump nuclear war jokes to sell grills? All this is actually happening?&mdash; Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior) February 5, 2018 The blatant commodification of black culture, black struggle and black pain illustrates perfectly how America is perfectly willing to exploit blackness but perfectly incapable of honoring it. #DodgeRam #MLK&mdash; Charles M. Blow (@CharlesMBlow) February 5, 2018 The Dodge ad with MLK was repulsive. It’s important to remember this is what corporations do. They digest progress and sell it back to us. 1/&mdash; Jared Yates Sexton (@JYSexton) February 5, 2018 *ad person slides into bed with spouse*SPOUSE: How was your ad during the super bowlAD PERSON: Too nervous! I didn’t watch! I’m sure nobody even saw itSPOUSE: Nooo. I’m sure people loved it. It’s a lovely ideaAD PERSON: (sign) I guess I’ll just see tomorrow if MLK sells cars&mdash; Mike Drucker (@MikeDrucker) February 5, 2018 I wish MLK was still alive so we could buy matching Dodge Rams and go fishing together and haul shit around and whatnot.&mdash; George Wallace (@MrGeorgeWallace) February 5, 2018 I&#39;d say, &quot;Hey MLK I gotta chop some wood but my Dodge Ram may not be able to handle all the wood I chop&quot; and MLK would be like, &quot;Let me meet you down there by the wood chopping area with my matching Dodge Ram.&quot; We&#39;d haul the wood then go fight for civil rights later that day.&mdash; George Wallace (@MrGeorgeWallace) February 5, 2018 When someone called out MLK&#39;s kids for allowing the use of his voice, Bernice King weighed in with a simple answer:https://twitter.com/youngsinick/status/960313837177188354https://twitter.com/youngsinick/status/960314579912929280No.&mdash; Be A King (@BerniceKing) February 5, 2018 According to Ad Age, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles defended the ad in the midst of the social media backlash, saying they did work with King&#39;s estate on the spot.&quot;It is 50 years to the day that Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave such a tremendous speech about the value of service,&quot; they said. The statement went on: Ram was honored to have the privilege of working with the Estate of Martin Luther King Jr. to celebrate those words during the largest TV viewing event annually. We worked closely with the representatives of the Martin Luther King Jr. estate to receive the necessary approvals and estate representatives were a very important part of the creative process every step of the way. The King Center, founded by Coretta Scott King, also denied involvement:Neither @TheKingCenter nor @BerniceKing is the entity that approves the use of #MLK’s words or imagery for use in merchandise, entertainment (movies, music, artwork, etc) or advertisement, including tonight’s @Dodge #SuperBowl commercial.&mdash; The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center (@TheKingCenter) February 5, 2018 

Chrysler's ad for the Dodge Ram was a minute-long clip featuring Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Drum Major Instinct" sermon.