Teachers Angry Over Carl’s Jr. “Flat Buns” Ad

Over the weekend, I saw several reports about the Tennessee Education Assocation and how they are upset about a new ad for the Carls Jr. Patty Melt called “Flat Buns.” They posted a statement on their website which reads in part:

“How irresponsible can you get? At this very moment, there are female teachers in high school classrooms with 30+ students who are working hard to teach our children so that they can compete in today’s world. It is unbelievably demeaning to every one of them to promote a television advertisement showing a young teacher gyrating on top of her desk while boys in the class rap about her body in order to sell hamburgers!”

Other bloggers have weighed in, with Tennessee Guerilla Women calling the ad “sexist” and Scared Monkeys writing:

“The ad is not only demeaning to teachers, it raises an even bigger issue of almost condoning teacher/student sex that has been almost an epidemic lately.”

However, One Man’s Vote writes that the teachers, “need to lighten up.” Ad Rants also disagrees, saying the TEA and bloggers like Tennessee Guerilla Women are overreacting:

“This high schooler’s wet dream is so over the top anyone who can’t see it’s humor needs help. Clearly, the teacher in the ad is not a teacher. Clearly the students in the ad are not students. Clearly, Hardee’s isn’t advocating teachers climb on their desks and dance in front of the class. Clearly, Hardee’s just wants people to see this ad and have something to laugh about when they walk into a Hardee’s restaurant and order a flat bun Patty Melt. Clearly, some people are over reacting.”

Interestingly, the 15-second version of the commercial (which you can see HERE) doesn’t even include the female teacher, just two guys rapping.

Here’s the full 30-second commercial being discussed: