Nissan Ad in Israel Depicting Arab Oil Lords Assailing Fuel-Stingy Car Incites Saudis
With violence in the Gaza escalating last week and chances of an Israeli-Palestinian peace deal crumbling, who'da thunk the lead story on an prominent Arab newscast Sunday night would revolve around a Nissan commercial promoting the fuel efficiency of one of its cars?
But Saudi Arabia's MBC TV began its Sunday night news broadcast with an outraged report about a Nissan commercial for its Tiida (pronounced Tee-da), a somewhat-sporty economy car that goes easy on the gas.
The advertisement, which has been airing in Israel, depicts wealthy Arab oil barons cursing and otherwise assailing the Tiida, enraged that the car is so fuel stingy.
"You destroyed my home! May God destroy your home!" one shouts at the little white car with a tan interior. "Hawks should peck at you day and night," says another.
It's entirely possible that some Israelis have found the commercial amusing and that possibility angered some Saudis, but that's only a hunch.
After showing snippets of the commercial, MBC proceeded to interview a Saudi representative, who was asked why he thought Israel would broadcast the commercial.
"Doesn't this seem strange to you?" an anchorwoman asks. "It isn't strange," the official says. "Israeli society and the Israeli entity are known to be racist."
The Saudi representative warned of a potential boycott of Nissan vehicles in Persian Gulf states unless the automaker apologizes.
Not to belittle the offense in any way, but what we at Green Car Advisor would like to know is what, exactly, is up with this seemingly harmless gas-sipper that's sold here as the Versa?
You may recall that a couple of years ago a commercial for the Tiida -- Tee-da! -- starring the very sexy Kim Cattrall upset so many New Zealanders with its raciness that Nissan was forced to take that commercial off the air.
Scott Doggett and Robert E. Calem, Contributors
- Posted by
- Scott Doggett August 6, 2008, 6:27 PM
- Permalink
- Categories:
- Fuel Economy, Nissan, Oil, Opinion
- Technorati Tags:
- Commercial, Israel, Nissan, Saudi Arabia, Tiida
LOL. Yet another example of a hypersensitive person getting offended by a harmless advertisement. Would it have been any less offensive if, say, a pair of Russian oil barons, or a couple of Texas oil drillers, etc were the co-stars? I am offended by their taking offense to this.
If stuff like this just made everyone giggle like its supposed to, then that area of the world would be completely different. Everyone takes themselves so seriously.
The Israelis would probably be doing the same thing if a commercial in Saudi Arabia poked fun at them.
It'd be nice if the world would lighten up.