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    Controversial “anti-Semitic” vodka billboard taken down in NYC

    Image credit: Gawker.com

    A billboard for Wodka vodka in NYC has been taken down and destroyed after complaints that the advertisement's message is anti-Semitic. The New York Times reported that the billboard featured a long-haired dog wearing a yarmulke and another dog wearing a Santa hat with the words, "Christmas quality, Hanukkah pricing," alongside the photo.

    The backlash against the billboard was nearly instantaneous. Ron Meier, regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, called it "crude and offensive."

    "To use the Jewish holiday in dealing with issues of money is clearly insensitive and inappropriate," Meier told the paper.

    Brian Gordon, head of MMG, the advertising company behind the billboard, said the billboard's message was not intended to be offensive. "We thought people would perceive it as 'ha ha quirky.' But people perceived it as offensive, and because of that, we pulled it." Mr. Gordon, according to the Times, was "quick to point out" that he also is Jewish.

    Wodka was quick to formally apologize as well, offering this explanation via its Twitter account:

    "Although rarely serious, we apologize to anyone we may have offended through our holiday campaign and are removing our billboard immediately."

    However, Gawker dug deeper into Wodka's Twitter account, quickly finding more questionable images:

    [O]n the company Twitter you can find a picture of the "Jewish" dog posing with Jonathan Cheban in a different ad. There's also this sheep wearing a sombrero standing near a Wodka bottle, and a "black Russian"—a black man wearing one of those fuzzy Russian hats.

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    • Snowman  •  5 mths ago
      Here in Australia there are next to no Jewish people. Is Hanukkah cheap? If so, calling this billboard offensive is just a sighn of how uncomfortable you are with yourself.
      • Frederick 4 mths ago
        Hi Snowman, you might like to know that Sydney is home to roughly 40–45,000 Jewish people.
    • TF  •  Lenexa, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I'm Jewish and I thought it was funny... people need to get a sense of humor... political correctness has ruined the world.
      • mike s 6 mths ago
        I would give you 100 thumbs up, if I could.
      • Tom 6 mths ago
        And I would give you another 100!
      • Peter 6 mths ago
        Whether it's offensive or not, I don't know. But it isn't particularly funny.
    • Sophie  •  Dillsburg, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I'm a Jew and I love Hanukkah pricing lol....
      • accountant retired 6 mths ago
        Shalom ... he best job I had in my life was for a Jewish second generation coat mfg. Doing accounting I was. Good people !!!
      • Daniel P 6 mths ago
        you must not be real jewish people. (All sarcasm intended). We need more people like you in the world that are not so thin skinned.
      • Random 6 mths ago
        LOL
    • miamisburger  •  Dayton, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Thank God I'm Irish !!! Nothing about booze offends us,,,Yikes !!
      • Gail 6 mths ago
        My husband is a shining example of that.
      • Liliana 6 mths ago
        Hahaha! Funny
      • Tom 6 mths ago
        I'm sure your post has offended someone
    • Broken Link  •  Houston, United States  •  6 mths ago
      People need to stop taking themselves so seriously. It's a joke folks, learn to laugh, or die depressed.
      • Ndn_nfl 6 mths ago
        EXCEPT BRAD,,,MAY I CALL YOU WHITIE,,,OR MAYBE WACICHU FITS BEST,,,WHEN THE "JOKE" LONG CEASES TO BE A "JOKE" AND STARTS HAVING A REAL IMPACT ON YOUR CHILDREN!!!
      • Mike 6 mths ago
        Ndn is going to die depressed. Soon hopefully. Just kidding.. that was a joke.
      • Razor 6 mths ago
        Now that's a great saying. (Learn to laugh or die depressed) I'm using that one. Thanks....
    • CORavensFan  •  6 mths ago
      I think that's hysterical. Everyone has such a thin skin these days.
    • Oo  •  Urbana, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Remember 15+ years ago when all of these 'offensive' things weren't 'offensive?'
      Today you can't walk down the street without offending someone in someway.
    • poker11  •  6 mths ago
      Being Jewish - I thought it was funny. Mostly I find people that are too sensitive are the biggest racests themselfs.

      It's America baby - you know the big melting pot.
    • Brutus  •  Pompano Beach, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I think it was absolutely fantastic. So certain groups can complain about everything and others have to take down a hysterical billboard. I'm so tired of the whinning. People, we live in a world of all kinds of people. Get a sense of humor.
    • william w  •  Oklahoma City, United States  •  6 mths ago
      I am offended by people who get offended.
    • GetReal  •  Richardson, United States  •  6 mths ago
      This is horribly offensive to dogs everywhere! We all know dogs hate it when we make them wear human apparel.
    • autumns  •  Omaha, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Oh brother. Does anyone know what "anti-Semitic" means? This is a little offensive because it deals with a Jewish stereotype, but it is in no way hatred or discrimination toward Jews. People just can't wait to find something to be PC about these days. It's maddening.
    • LearnedHand  •  6 mths ago
      Some people are offended by everything and some people have absolutely no sense of humor at all. Jewish humor runs deep in our culture - Marx Bros., Alan King, Jerry Seinfeld, Milton Berle, and on and on - what is wrong with this Anti-Defam guy? I quit a job during employee orientation because the Hu Resources guy told us that "You can be reprimanded for anything that offends another person, whether patient, physician or another employee." Well, that's ridiculous - some people make a career out of being offended and why should I work for a hospital that allows one hypersensitive person to leave a black mark on the record of my employee? You have to be accused of being racist, anti-Muslim, etc., and you have a reprimand in your record - they don't have to prove it. The world is completely crazy. That is why I work at home, because I'm tired of crazy stupid people.
    • AmandaJolie  •  Las Vegas, United States  •  6 mths ago
      By stirring controversy, best publicity the company could get, really!
    • Zephyr  •  Marietta, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Political correctness is killing this country. There are far too many people who are "offended" by anything and everything, and we are pandering to them.
    • Bob  •  6 mths ago
      and the hypersensitivity in America continues....................ugh
    • Sarah  •  6 mths ago
      I'm Jewish & I don't find it offensive.
    • trooperusmc93  •  6 mths ago
      Boy, they must get offended at the movie "Blazing Saddles." Funniest movie I think ever made.
    • Bonnie  •  6 mths ago
      Seems like everyone is sensitive about something. You can please some people some of the time, but not all people all of the time. I think it's time we stopped making a big deal of everything! Stop being so darned "sensitive"!!!!
    • Tom  •  Washington, United States  •  6 mths ago
      Somewhere along the way Americans have lost their sense of humor and have become too sensitive.
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