Anyone else more than a little confused by Qantas' decision about black face?

[Taezar]

Hi guys
As you know the Great Crusade is on - big multi part competition as part of QF's sponsorship of the Wallabies and the Rugby World Cup. I was lucky enough to win one of the minor prizes earlier this year.
As part of this ongoing sponsorship of the Wallabies there was this competition to win tix to the Bledisloe Cup. You had to say what you would do to win the tix on twitter then follow through.
Two people dressed up at Radike Samo (including black face and afro wigs). Qantas knew they were doing this, they had been advised and approved of it obviously, because they won.
They then retweeted the picture - you can see it here.
WTF?
I don't think is appropriate at all. In anyway, shape or form.
Am I over reacting? Personally I think this will generate a lot of negative publicity.

 

[medhead]

Sorry what is the problem with this? I assume you are saying it's racist. But how? Samo is a great player and has a major comeback at his age. The commentators on last night game used to play rugby with him. I think it is a fitting tribute to what Samo has achieved and his longevity in the game.

 

[markis10]

It has the potential to go the same way as the hey Hey skit especially for some less familiar with Rugby , I think the wig would have sufficed.

 

[mannej]

I think Medhead has hit it in one. I think there is a difference between this and something like Sam Newman doing the Nicky Winmar stint on the footy show.

Is the photo racist? no. Will it generate publicity? more than likely. Will it be negative? Half yes, half no. I do agree it is a sensitive issue, but you have to look at the context behind it all.

 

[tuapekastar]

Whilst I think the Hey Hey thing was much ado about not much, I'm a little surprised QF went down this path, considering the storm surrounding the previous 'incident'.

 

[russ]

Red Roo,

1. Der, you didn't see that coming?
2. In your twitter stream, you keep saying that you apologise "if" someone was offended. It's pretty clear that they are offended: they tweeted their offence. Why not apologise "that" someone was offended?

Regards,
russ

 

[munitalP]

Hi guys
As you know the Great Crusade is on - big multi part competition as part of QF's sponsorship of the Wallabies and the Rugby World Cup. I was lucky enough to win one of the minor prizes earlier this year.
As part of this ongoing sponsorship of the Wallabies there was this competition to win tix to the Bledisloe Cup. You had to say what you would do to win the tix on twitter then follow through.
Two people dressed up at Radike Samo (including black face and afro wigs). Qantas knew they were doing this, they had been advised and approved of it obviously, because they won.
They then retweeted the picture - you can see it here.
WTF?
I don't think is appropriate at all. In anyway, shape or form.
Am I over reacting? Personally I think this will generate a lot of negative publicity.

I think you are being very sensitive to something that is a nothing.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Whilst I think the Hey Hey thing was much ado about not much, I'm a little surprised QF went down this path, considering the storm surrounding the previous 'incident'.

The storm was about that silly yankee singer who made something out of nothing. You need to be very polite in the states, even to minorities, as you dont know who is carrying a gun.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Red Roo,

1. Der, you didn't see that coming?
2. In your twitter stream, you keep saying that you apologise "if" someone was offended. It's pretty clear that they are offended: they tweeted their offence. Why not apologise "that" someone was offended?

Regards,
russ

Did they say why they were offended?

We make too much of apologies in this country I reckon. What happened to the knockabout days when you could say and do anything, and no one was offended??

these days apologies are simplly not genuine nor sincere, which quite frankly is a crock.

Who has hijacked this?

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Samo played great last night, going into the World Cup he is the 'cult hero' of the Wallabies.
I think alot more fans can relate to him than some of the younger Wallabies!

Go Samo and get some viral publicity Qantas!

 

[Sprucegoose]

Samo played great last night, going into the World Cup he is the 'cult hero' of the Wallabies.
I think alot more fans can relate to him than some of the younger Wallabies!

Go Samo and get some viral publicity Qantas!

the bloke is 35!!!!

what a run.

good on him. he wouldnt be offended in the least I would say.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Good on ya Sprucegoose.
Maybe Qantas knows more about viral marketing than we think...I'll ask the "C" level exec I am seeing later this wk.

 

[Noob]

Not a very smart decision of behalf of a major company - why would they risk offending anyone with something that could clearly be taken as offensive, especially with such a similar incident occurring with the Nine Network?

 

[samiam]

I'll ask the "C" level exec I am seeing later this wk.

I was going to make a comment re 'Which C' here, but realize that AFF has a list of banned words that will be ***'ed out.

Frankly, I'd be annoyed if you asked me such a question for the benefit of publishing something in the public domain (you didn't state you would publish anything, but why bother posting that you were going to ask the question?) I have my opinion on the matter.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

I'm going to ask the question in private and keep the conversation private.
But, it will be interesting to know how high in QF social media interaction / knowledge exists.

I've just spent 2 wks with a major Asian based financial institution going thru a social media strategy.

 

[serfty]

The storm was about that silly yankee singer who made something out of nothing. You need to be very polite in the states, even to minorities, as you dont know who is carrying a gun.

In the USA, one needs to be really careful about that sort of thing; even when it is quite innocent.

See this thread from FT some years ago:

• [*=1]Oneworld Award Bookings - Experiences

 

[drron]

I just heard Samo being interviewed and he was asked about the 2 fellows who wore wigs and had blackened faces-he said he was stoked.

PS-I am assuming the interview hadn't been through an editing process!

 

[tuapekastar]

In the USA, one needs to be really careful about that sort of thing; even when it is quite innocent.

See this thread from FT some years ago:

• [*=1]Oneworld Award Bookings - Experiences

Thanks for the link serfty - that thread predates me on FT. There are some boneheads out there (maybe including me occasionally )

 

[awilcockson]

See this thread from FT some years ago:

• [*=1]Oneworld Award Bookings - Experiences

Wow

 

[tuapekastar]

From this news article...

But Samo said he had gladly posed for pictures with the pair and didn't understand "what the fuss is all about".

"These guys were actually paying me a tribute. It was a bit of fun and I think it's great that they regarded me as their favourite Wallaby," he said.

"I didn't have an issue with it at all ... I don't know why anyone's getting worked up, that sort of reaction is just silly."

Samo did not appear to have an issue - and nor do I - but as I said, I'm still surprised QF went this way, given events of recent years.