Placating a crowd of black people with a bucket of chicken is considered good marketing by Kentucky Fried Chicken in Australia -- but it's causing a bit of a fervor here in the States.
The ad shows a very distressed white guy, surrounded by a crowd of black people at a cricket match, who wonders, "Need a tip when you're stuck in an awkward situation?" He gets out of the "awkward situation" by handing them a bucket of chicken.
A rep for KFC Australia told a local paper, "It is a light-hearted reference to the West Indian cricket team ... The ad was reproduced online in the US without KFC's permission, where we are told a culturally-based stereotype exists, leading to the incorrect assertion of racism."
UPDATE -- We just got this statement: "KFC Australia is removing the television advertisement that was being run in conjunction with the Australian cricket season. We apologize for any misinterpretation of the ad as it was not meant to offend anyone."
Hell hath no fury like a chicken lover scorned -- as you'll see in this lawsuit filed by people who are pissed over KFC's free chicken giveaway.
James Asanuma just filed the suit on behalf of KFC fans everywhere, saying the chain's May giveaway was nothing short of a scam to deceive its customers into spending more dough.
The lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, says KFC promised everyone "2 pieces of grilled chicken, two individual sides and a biscuit" -- but the promotion, which was promoted on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," turned out to be so popular they couldn't meet the demand.
And that's when the biscuit hit the fan.
The suit says that because KFC couldn't dish out the food as promised, they were forced to give vouchers for free food in the future.
The suit says this "bait and switch" caused customers to incur "travel costs, paper and printing costs, postage, the money they spent on other food items at KFC on visits when they had intended to redeem the Coupon ... and the loss of the value of the promised Meal."
James is suing KFC, because he's hungry for a little payback.
El Pollo Loco and KFC are in old fashioned throwdown over free chicken. KFC customers have gone crazy over the company's recent free chicken coupons, but apparently the coupons won't be honored on Mother's Day. So El Pollo Loco has decided to honor KFC's coupons on Mother's Day for their customers -- whether you're a mother or not!
How do you like your Clooney: Original recipe or extra hunky? George Clooney had a run-in with Colonel Sanders* while promoting his new film in Kentucky.
Yum.
*Yes. We are aware that this is not the real Colonel. It's a joke people.
TMZ has learned that Kentucky Fried Chicken wants to throw an all-you-can-eat housewarming party for "Hills" star Lauren Conrad, who recently purchased a new home. Unlike her show, this is for reals!
In an open letter to LC, the chicken chain says they want to welcome Lauren to the new neighborhood, which is "down the street from one of our restaurants," by giving a VIP party for her and her friends. Sorry, Heidi -- only natural breast meat available!
And since LC no longer faux works at Teen Vogue, KFC wants to employ the budding fashion designer to design a retro T-shirt for their Colonel Scholars charity. Finger lickin' good!
No word on if LC will go for Original Recipe or Extra Crispy.
Although Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert has dropped out of the Presidential race, he can still run KFC's White House! In an open letter to the semi-fictional right wing political pundit funnyman, the restaurant chain has extended an offer to Colbert to serve as KFC President for a day -- "no ballot, election or voting required." Somewhere, Dubya is salivating! If he accepts the offer, Colbert's official duties will include sorting the "left wings" from the "right wings" and a "State of the Chicken" address. Paging FEMA!
One perk of this presidency is that Colbert won't have to choose sides, since KFC says, "We have plenty of mashed potatoes and gravy, cole slaw and macaroni and cheese to go around." Finger lickin' good!
Sanjaya Malakar is getting fried this week! Kentucky Fried Chicken has offered the "American Idol" wannabe a free lifetime supply of their Famous Bowls if the 17-year-old hirsute crooner sports a bowl hairdo in one of his next televised performances.
In an open letter to Sanjaya, KFC President Gregg Dedrick writes, "We're sure America will be as 'bowled-over' by your take on this classic look as they are by our KFC Famous Bowls."
In addition to the poultry perks, KFC will also make a contribution in Sanjy's name to Colonel Scholars, a charity that provides young people with college scholarships. Who knew bad singing and funny weaves could do so much good?!
Last year, Katharine McPhee was offered $10,000 and a year's supply of their Famous Bowls to write and star in a KFC ad.
A 19-year-old PETA staffer has legally changed his name to KentuckyFriedCruelty.com.
Chris Garnett, youth outreach coordinator for the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, said he changed his name in support of the group's anti-KFC campaign.
"People don't believe me at first when I tell them my name, but it never fails to spark a discussion," Garnett, er, KentuckyFriedCruelty.com, said in a statement. "Many vow to boycott KFC after I explain the company's indifference to cruelty to animals."
Norfolk, Va.-based PETA's complaints against KFC stem from video footage shot last year recording alleged mistreatment of birds at a Pilgrim's Pride Corp. plant in Moorefield, W.Va. The plant is a KFC supplier.
Yum! Brands, the parent company of KFC, has disputed the claims of mistreatment. In June, a grand jury refused to indict former workers at the West Virginia chicken plant.
"Stacked" star Pamela Anderson, who has narrated a PETA video showing the alleged abuse, supports Garnett's name change.
"I'm sure Chris can't wait 'till KFC stops torturing chickens so he can change his name back," the actress said in a statement, adding that the chicken abuse "is awful and has to stop."
Hell hath no fury like a chicken lover scorned -- as you'll see in this lawsuit filed by people who are pissed over KFC's free chicken giveaway.
TMZ has learned that 
Sanjaya Malakar is getting fried this week! 
