Up since April 2009 and already enjoying over 1 100 000 views on YouTube, it’s not surprising that this viral for The Red House furniture store is doing so well… Like so many other Internet successes; it’s as controversial as it is hilarious.
Celebrating the racial differences between the store’s customers, many have written this ad off as a cheap ploy to generate publicity. Either way, it sure is cheap AND generating a hell of a lot of publicity.
Let’s watch:
"…At The Red House!”
It seems the theme-tune singing duo who produced the ad, Rhett and Link, were ready for a flurry of racial discussion (naturally, it is a viral campaign after all). Here’s what they had to say on the YouTube description:
“Discussing race in the US is taboo. It always makes people feel uncomfortable. We think it's a shame that someone saying 'I'm white' or 'I'm black' creates such a stir. There are real cultural identities within different people groups, and these things should be celebrated and embraced, not swept under the rug.”
Whether it be a supposed racist slur or a close up shot which goes on just too long for comfort; Viral advertisers and marketers are generally not averse to creating videos which challenge the audience, and/or make them cringe in disbelief to the point where they cannot resist sending it on.
Rhett and Link wrap up the ad by singing the signature jingle, “…at the Red House; where black people and white people buy furniture”.
This viral video cuts through the gloss and glamour, and serves up an advert which may be a little too close to reality for some. But what can I say? I‘m Damian, I’m white and I love the Red House.
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