Despite an apology from Popchips CEO, comedian Hasan Minhaj is still fuming over Ashton Kutcher's "brownface" ad.
Last Tuesday, a new Popchips ad campaign, "World Wide Lovers," went viral with Kutcher portraying several characters — including a Bollywood producer named "Raj."
Some viewers called the clip racist, and Minhaj agrees.
"Maybe Popchips consciously didn't want to offend minorities, but subconsciously, they knew that they could get away with clowning Indians and Asians… That's the way it is now. They wouldn't do that with any other ethnicity," the comedian ranted in a new YouTube video posted Sunday. "There's a barbeque flavor of Pop Chips, why didn't you make him blackfaced and Tyrone? Because you knew you'd get f–king buried, Popchips. That's why. And you know that Asians and Indians are the new 'clownable minority.' "
PopChips CEO and Founder Keith Belling apologized on Thursday and the commercial has since been pulled.
"We received a lot feedback about the dating campaign parody we launched today and appreciate everyone who took the time to share their point of view," Belling wrote on Popchips' official website. "Our team worked hard to create a light-hearted parody featuring a variety of characters that was meant to provide a few laughs. We did not intend to offend anyone. I take full responsibility and apologize to anyone we offended."
