KFC under fire for shark attack ad parodying surfer Mike Fanning
KFC has come under fire for a South African ad which parodies the shark attack sustained by surfing legend Mick Fanning.
The fast food company decided to take advantage of the popularity of the three time world surfing champion’s escape from the jaws of a great white shark in July with a 30 second ad for its new “Jacked Up Double Crunch” chicken burger.
While in the water, Fanning found himself fighting off a great white during a live broadcast of the J Bay Open after the shark had become caught in his leg leash. The Australian’s mother watched on as her son kicked and punched the shark in attempt to avoid being bitten. He was promptly rescued by lifeguards and left emotionally shaken, unable to enter the water for months.
Speaking to FairFax Media, Fanning’s mother, Elizabeth Osborne, branded the ad “disrespectful” and said “it really brings back a lot of trauma for everybody who has been attacked by a shark".
She added that “some families have had fatalities and some people are still absolutely scarred without limbs. It's disrespectful to them and Mick is not at all happy with that”.
Osborne claimed that the World Surf League (WSL), the sport's governing body, was considering legal action to have the ad banned.
KFC South Africa has yet to comment on the controversy however the FairFax article appeared to show KFC Australia distancing itself from the ad after a spokesman said” the advertisement has been produced in South Africa - KFC Australia is very sensitive to the situation in Australia and this is not the type of ad we would choose to show here."
The full ad can be viewed above.