Promoting ignorance . . . the Pinkberry way
Pinkberry, a frozen desserts chain with over 23 locations in the Los Angeles area and New York City, proudly serves unhealthy portions of ignorance alongside its overpriced and arguably overrated frozen desserts. No stranger to controversy, Pinkberry sells this less-than-wholesome product:
The Alessi Mandarin Citrus Juicer by Stefano Giovannoni
Really, should a company founded and run by Asian-Americans sell these products?
These “mandarin juicers” are essentially three-dimensional caricatures of Chinese “coolies” or laborers who emigrated to the United States well over a century ago. Indeed, while most caricatures are harmless and perhaps amusing, the same is not true for caricatures playing on racial or ethnic stereotypes.
Such stereotypes are rarely flattering. These three-dimensional caricatured heads with slanted eyes and rice paddy hats emasculate Asian males, reducing them to slit-eyed plastic bowls that become orange or yellow in color as more oranges or lemons are squeezed upon their rice paddy hats. It’s hard to see the humor in that.
Moreover, they reinforce the notion of “otherness” or “foreignness” of Asians, Asian-Americans, or Americans of Asian descent. The message is simple: the “Chinaman” will always remain a “Chinaman”.
The Alessi “mandarin juicers” are to Asians what Aunt Jemima is to African-Americans, Frito Bandito is to Latinos, and anti-Semitic caricatures are to Jewish people.
It’s hard to say what’s more disappointing: that the product designer finds humor in a design based on racial stereotypes or that they are also sold by at least one retail outfit owned by Asian-Americans (think: Pinkberry).
July 23, 2008 at 2:20 pm
can i still get those “two wongs make it white” t-shirts from abercrombie and finch?
July 23, 2008 at 3:30 pm
yeah, you can but can you go phuk your mother first.
phuk her good for me. if your mother is dead, still go phuk her.
July 23, 2008 at 3:56 pm
Promoting the… stupidness, violence, short-mindedness, lack of humor, dumb politically-correctness, unpoliteness, ignorance… the kumfindmie way
July 23, 2008 at 4:16 pm
did you phuk your mother yet?
chop chop. how’s that for political correctness you heartless conservative
bastid. mao tse dong forever, 1 China.
the only people who complain about political correctness are the one’s who had privilege and power since the dawn of time. and they say we are whiners.
1China.
July 23, 2008 at 4:18 pm
We at Pinkberry understand the concerns regarding the Alessi juicer and we appreciate that our valued customers have shared their concerns with us. We wanted to let you know that these items are being removed from our stores. They were part of an eclectic collection and we in no way ever intended to offend anyone by displaying them.
Sincerely,
A Pinkberry representative
July 23, 2008 at 5:01 pm
This is ridiculous. This is not racist at all, For God’s sake, the juicer is cute. People are constantly looking for something to complain about. If you’d stop making a stink about stupid crap like this, then maybe we’d move ahead with racial relations. Requiring people to be super-politically-correct just hurts the cause, and gets people annoyed.
Where can I buy the juicer? Because people are making such a big deal about it, I’d actually like to purchase a bunch of these as presents for my white, yellow, and black friends. Thanks!
July 23, 2008 at 5:12 pm
you can buy it from your muther’s womb after you’re done with it.
but you can’t buy it from Pinkberry.
July 23, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Pinkberry rep is a bunch of bullshit damage control.
Shut down Stinkberry and Alessi.
Asians need to stand up sometimes.
July 23, 2008 at 5:20 pm
Dear Pinkberry customers,
We appreciate all the hard earned money you blow on our worthless product, and are surprised that some of you with no taste will find the Chinky Alessi juicer offensive. Who cares about Orientals?
Thank you,
Pinkberry Frozen “Yogurt”
July 23, 2008 at 5:25 pm
back from phuking your mother so soon? next time take some viagra.
don’t finish so fast.
July 23, 2008 at 6:52 pm
Even though I hate Pinkberry and even though I’m a proud Asian American, I’ve got to say that this is going a bit too far. It’s like the whole “kaffir” thing. Sometimes people make something out of nothing.
I suppose you’ll also say that the Asian pylone pepper mills are also racist, perpetuating the stereotype that Asian women belong in the kitchen and being reminiscent of foot binding.
When people start screaming “bloody murder” about something as trivial as this, it reflects poorly on our race. It’s hard to take us seriously about the real issues.
July 23, 2008 at 7:06 pm
kaffir? you mean a yogurt drink?
bloody murder? hey, this is America get your Hong Kong fake British
accent out of here.
1China. and, this is not trivial. Pinkberry already removed the item.
July 24, 2008 at 11:38 am
kumfindmeemie,
If you don’t know what “kaffir” is, you’re pretty ignorant. Do a google search. if you were trying to make a joke, you need to work on your sense of humor.
Judging from your other responses on this thread, you sound like an immature idiot.
btw, this juicer was developed with full support from the National Palace Museum of Taiwan. Pinkberry dropped it because this nation is way too PC.
Do you know how many real issues of prejudice Asians and Asian-Americans in America face? This “scandal” just makes us look pathetic. It’s like the boy who cried wolf. When people start complaining about the trivial things, nobody will listen to them regarding the significant ones. I wish people would understand that and choose their battles wisely.
July 24, 2008 at 12:53 pm
k,
And fyi, I’m not from Hong Kong, nor is my ancestry from Hong Kong. I’m an Asian-American whose parents came here with nothing and had to work hard to provide for us. There’s no sense of entitlement that I have. My husband’s (who is also another Asian-American) family also came to this country with nothing as well. And he also thinks this thing is ridiculous. Sounds like you’re the one who’s stereotyping.
Just get a life. You make Asians look bad.
July 24, 2008 at 3:01 pm
you make yourself look bad, you’re not white. again, you’re not white.
I know what kaffir or kafir means and it’s disgusting. figures that a conservative like you would harp on that term. it’s the same as using
an antiquated term like “niggardly” why? again, why?
why is it that you conservatives love using the term PC? why?
why, is it political? or related to politics? why, why again?
you’re just a hateful person. did you phuk your mother yet?
stop trying to be white and look in the mirror.
and go phuk your mother.
July 24, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Before you jump to conclusions using your paltry little thing you call a mind, I’m not a conservative. And even if I was, what is it to you? You like to compartmentalize people and define them by your stupid definitions. Why don’t you go phuk your mother since you are telling everybody to do it? You obviously haven’t resolved your Oedipus complex. You really need some psychological counseling. I would pity you, but I don’t think you’re worth it. You’re just a stupid, little troll. End of discussion.
July 24, 2008 at 4:32 pm
you’re a conservative, the one who follows the stupid
pull yourself up from your bootstraps dream.
you also believe in the free market, well I’m a 1china.
mao tse donged your mutha.
look in the mirror, you’re not white. have some pride
in yourself. I pity your low self esteem but it’s too late
hopefully others will see in themselves their true beauty
and not some false dream.
1china 4ever.
July 24, 2008 at 7:27 pm
Even as an Asian “fresh from the boat”, I feel it does not make much sense to make a whole deal about it. The juicer is quite cute… And by the way, why should two Koreans step in for a product related to Chinese? “Yi He Wei Ben” (Everything should base on peace/harmony) is the basic Chinese doctrine… As a Chinese who is proud of my own culture, I would admire the design and laugh at this mess you guys are creating…
July 24, 2008 at 7:45 pm
um, you do know many Chinese died while building the railroad
and the many exclusionary laws that applied to the Chinese in the U.S.
not to mention the internment of the Japanese which wasn’t that long ago.
laugh all you want, 1china.
there is no mess, the days of de facto racism are over.
July 25, 2008 at 2:01 pm
the owners of pinkberry is a buncha coons for sellin this wack ass product
July 25, 2008 at 4:08 pm
it is very offensive! they can sell that is they also sell white ceramic figures of black people eating watermelon.
get that shit off the store and stop distorying ur how hertiage just for a few bucks
July 28, 2008 at 9:55 am
If it wasn’t offending and it wasn’t wrong, Pinkberry would have kept selling them. The Fact that they removed them immediately and have their “representatives” making postings about it shows that they know they were wrong and that they were selling an offensive product in their stores!! It’s that simple.
Pinkberry will do anything to make a dollar (anything, except sell healthy frozen yogurt, that is).
They open stores so fast that they have hundreds of rats in them. They say they are healthy and then the NY Times investigates and proves they are full of preservatives and unhealthy additives. Then they sell offensive, racist items in their stores. I even heard they had a store close in California because they had sewage leaking into the kitchen and storage room.
What is gonna happen next, pinkberry? Let’s see how long it is until you screw up again!