Fast food mascots have always kind of freaked me out; whether we're looking at classic ones or snazzy new redesigns, something about them just makes me shudder. Knowing this about myself, then, it's perhaps unsurprising that I'm having a hard time dealing with KFC Japan's new sexy chicken nugget mascot. That's right — I just used the words sexy, chicken, and nugget in the same phrase. To be fair, KFC Japan has a pretty solid track record when it comes to thinking outside the box for advertising; last year we all flipped out over the fact that a fried chicken phone case, keyboard, and earrings existed courtesy of the fast food chain. But this? This is…really something else. I have no idea what she's supposed to be promoting, and to be honest, I think it's better that way.
According to Cosmopolitan, Danny Choo, who is a TV director and presenter in Japan as well as the creator of something called the Smart Doll. first posted the image on his Facebook page over the weekend. The photo subsequently found its way to Reddit — specifically to the r/NormalDayinJapan subreddit, which highlights what it calls “the uniquely goofy side of Japanese culture” — and, well…you do the math. According to one commenter on the Reddit post, the sexy nugget's speech bubble translates to “I'll make it boneless for you,” which sounds to me weirdly like that ancient Ellie Kemper sketch about blow jobs; however, Cosmo notes that it's an idiom that means something like "You will fall for me,” so it's probably a pun playing off the idea of a deep and abiding love of boneless chicken pieces.
The thing I'm really having difficulty coping with, though? Is the fact that the anthropomorphic nugget has breasts, especially since the ads appear to be geared toward convincing us to eat chicken breasts. And —
Actually, wait. That's a lie. That's not the most difficult thing to cope with, although it's certainly one of them. Why did I suddenly change my mind? Because I just wandered over to the KFC Japan website and found myself confronted with images of the nugget posing provocatively both with her dress…and without it.
That is the thing I'm having the hardest time reconciling.
I'm kind of torn, you guys. On the one hand, I can't believe that the sexualization of advertising has gone so far as to sex up a cartoon chicken nugget. On the other, though, I appreciate the fact that the nugget isn't body shaming, anyone; indeed, she's working what she's got like a pro. I just…
And:
Does anyone else have any ideas about what we should do with this? Because I'm seriously at a loss. I'm open to suggestions, though — help? Someone? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller?
You can see more of this saucy chicken lady in action over at her home on the web. Just, y'know…in case you need to do a little more research.
Images: Daremoshiranai/Flickr; Danny Choo/Facebook; Giphy (2)
