A KFC advert featuring Port Adelaide AFL stars has been removed from the internet after claims the video was racist – but not everyone is offended.
KFC is the shorts sponsor for Port Adelaide, who will play Hawthorn in a sudden-death final at Adelaide Oval on Friday night.
The fast food chain also sponsors the Hawks, along with Collingwood and Richmond.
The removed advert is a new addition to the ‘Fried Night Footy’ series which has aired on both the AFL and NRL in Australia for a number of years.
In this version, Port Adelaide star Aliir Aliir points to a bucket of KFC product as Power teammates Miles Bergman, Ebony O’Dea and Ashleigh Saint walk towards him in an aisle.
He then runs away to indicate that he doesn’t want to share the chicken while his club mates chase him as the Friday Night Football song plays.
The video lasts just five seconds and was posted on social media on Thursday before disappearing on Friday.
A thumbnail of the original ad remains on TikTok, but clicking the link displays a message saying “video currently unavailable.”
Port Adelaide player Aliir Aliir appears in now-removed KFC advert
Then port players Miles Bergman, Ebony O’Dea and Ashleigh Saint show up, wanting some of the chicken Aliir Aliir is carrying, but he’s in no mood to share.
TikTok user manliketats called the video racist due to American stereotypes involving fried chicken and African Americans.
However, it was online long enough for a few people to copy it, including a TikTok user named manliketats, who is Australian with a Zimbabwean mother.
“KFC, KFC, KFC, to say I’m disappointed is an understatement,” he says in a reaction video.
To say I’m upset is an understatement. Have you forgotten what year it is?
‘We’re in 2024. This kind of thing can’t continue. We’re not in 2003 anymore.
“No matter how true this video is, it’s 2024 and everyone will have a problem with this.”
Aliir Aliir was born in Kenya to South Sudanese parents who had fled the Sudanese civil war and moved to Australia when he was just eight years old.
The stereotype that links fried chicken to black people comes from America’s racist history.
Racist caricatures and depictions in media, such as minstrel shows and early films, exaggerated and mocked African American culture, often using food as a tool to degrade and dehumanize.
Football fans were divided, with some calling the video racist and others saying it was harmless.
This prompted some football fans to criticise KFC for using Aliir Aliir in the now-deleted advert.
“Racism at KFC, how disgraceful,” posted one commenter.
“No, they did that shit on purpose,” wrote another.
“I can understand why black people might be offended,” another added.
However, the vast majority of football fans defended both Aliir Aliir and KFC, saying the ad is not offensive in any way.
“I think it’s more racist to not let Aliir Aliir earn sponsorship money just because he’s black,” one football fan commented on the TikTok reaction video.
“In Australia this stereotype only applies to Americans,” added another.
“I can understand black people being offended but look at it this way… maybe he really loves KFC and wanted their sponsorship and now he’s losing a sponsor,” another suggested.
“Mate Aliir has been subjected to racism before you. I’m pretty sure if he didn’t want to do it because he’s racist, he wouldn’t have done it,” another commenter posted.
Aliir Aliir has been used in KFC promotions before without any negative reaction, and this ad is still active on Port Adelaide’s Page X.
Aliir Aliir will play a crucial role for Port Adelaide in their elimination final against Hawthorn on Friday night.
KFC Australia has been contacted for comment.
This is not the first time Aliir Aliir has participated in a KFC promotion.
He appeared in the Ultimate Footy Bucket List competition held in June, in which football fans could win a year’s supply of KFC and the chance to meet the Power star.
He was photographed smiling during the promotion, which did not generate any negative reaction.
Port Adelaide will play Hawthorn Hawks at Adelaide Oval on Friday night with a chance of reaching the preliminary final at stake.