The 25 Most Inappropriate MLK Day Advertisements

Should the day be about reflecting on compassion and civil rights, or is it really about buying a mattress?

January 21, 2013

Image via Complex Original

How should one celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, the federal holiday marking the birthday of the most prominent leader of the Civil Rights Movement? Would the day be best spent in quiet contemplation of the man's work, hours spent revisiting his unforgettable speeches and sermons? Perhaps one should spend the day among friends and family, use the holiday as an occasion to demonstrate kinship and compassion?

Thing is, the holiday always creates a long weekend, which means it's often the impetus for massive parties, annual sales, and other less-serious events. Hence, a bunch of inappropriate advertisements. Oh, people don't have to work Monday—maybe they'll use that time to buy the mattress they've been dreaming of? Or so the thinking must go.

If you've been suffering from neck problems, avoid looking at The 25 Most Inappropriate MLK Day Advertisements. You'll shake your head too much.

Written by Ross Scarano (@RossScarano)

Can Has Cheeseburger

Get it? It's a joke about Dr. King dreaming about burgers, not equality and brotherhood! Where do they come up with these knee-slappers?

All Black Everything, Huh?

Over-under on the amount of time between when this ad first went live and when the marketing team got the ax.

Dining Out

The age-old dilemma all public institutions face, especially places of higher education. As a university, do you serve fried chicken at the dining hall on MLK Day?

No. Regardless of the intention, it won't come off well. Just...no.

Two Step

The Civil Rights Movement was, like, one long dance-off, and whoever wore the brightest shirt won!

What's an R.I.P. Set?

It bears repeating: "Last hour will be a straight R.I.P. set."

Going out on a limb here, but smart money says that none of this will feel honorable.

Are Those Beats?

If your flyer makes patrons worry about whether Dr. King is wearing Beats by Dre or not, can you really market yourself as a "No Worries Bash"?

Swerve

By avoiding any mention of civil rights, freedom, etc., is this poster actually the most appropriate MLK Day party flyer? Go ahead and meditate on Horse Meat.

Real Equality

The open bar is for EVERYBODY. #EQUALITY

Dreams of Lingerie

"I have a dream that one day every party will be a lingerie party."

Dreams of Pajamas

"I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in pajamas."

King's Cup

Rap producers lead lives just as significant as that of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Puns—gotta love em.

Looks Good in Leather

"I've been to the mountaintop. And I only saw Ciroc, donks, and these 16 chains."

Who's Excited?

Who's go two fingers and is really excited about a woman in a bikini (not to mention $1 bottles of Skyy)?

Which Dreams, Exactly?

Dreams really do come true in the club. For instance, dreams of paying hundreds of dollars for mid-range vodka with lit sparklers attached. Dreams of being ice-grilled after stepping on someone's shoes. Dreams of dance-floor rejection and puking in an alleyway.

Civil War

Nothing wrong with playfully suggesting a conflict between the North and the South here. Nope, nothing wrong at all.

All of the Bags

Strippers x free Louis Vuitton bags = Real Freedom. Duh.

Boobs

Everything comes back to breasts. #AMERICA

Many Men

Dr. King's speeches had as much to do with twerking strippers as they did with diesel dudes in banana hammocks.

Finally Free

Freedom is so chiseled.

The Colonel

Admit it—you saw this coming.

Bed So Soft

YOU ARE CHEAPENING REAL RHETORIC. YOU ARE FLATTENING THE IMPORTANCE OF REAL POLITICAL POWER AND THE POSSIBILITY FOR CHANGE.

Sorry—rant over. Go back to selling mattresses in an insidious fashion.

Shades of Racism

Nobody noticed the problem here?

A Very Specific Dream

If advertising in the 21st century has taught us anything about MLK Day, it's that any dream will do. Tattoo dreams, cheeseburger dreams—you name it and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. can act as a stand-in for its realization.