NBA Special: Kobe Brant’s Turkish Airlines ad creates a stir of controversy
It was not Call of Duty, Nike or his Black Mamba film ad that featured him with a weapon having the word ‘Mamba’ on it, but it was something entirely different. This time the 32-year-old Kobe Bryant, who is one of the most popular basketball players across
the globe, did something amazing when he cooked in a Turkish Airlines commercial. The player might have failed to cook after being challenged by the chef in the ad, but he never failed to leave his charisma on the screen.
The player is surely loved, as he is even popular amongst the Chinese and has a large fan following all around the world. He is one of the best endorsers for all types of products and that is why a large line of companies love to feature him in their ads.
This time however, things changed a little for the 13-time National Basketball Association All-Star.
The ad shows him travelling to Istanbul after missing a game-winning shot. The chef on the plane questions Kobe about the shot and from there on starts a challenging fight between the both. Not a physical fight, but a fight of talent. The defending NBA champ
starts exploring the chef inside him, which results in almost getting burnt and a finger cut. Perhaps, what was on his mind was the myth that “there is a cook inside every man” and he starts to follow his instincts in exploring his culinary skills. Failing
to make an impact, the chef also plays poor basketball and is unable to become a jack of all trades.
The Armenian Americans living in California are hoping and even threatening the player to cut the deal, as it had caused a flare of adversity against the athlete back in 2010. The main issue is that the United States of America and Turkey does not consider
the death of 1.5 million Armenians as ‘genocide’. The Armenians living in California were hoping that the player would use his merit to highlight and recognise that sad era as genocide. The Armenians used both words and threats to keep the player out of the
deal, but it was of no use, as Kobe went through with it. Some fans confessed to being upset with him, but also thought that probably he did not know the whole background and that he was not educated on the subject. Other fans were very direct about expressing
their feelings on the issue.
Kobe, the face of Los Angeles, seemed excited after becoming the new face of Turkish Airlines, but the player has upset a major population of the metropolitan area that is around 100,000. There is a buzz created by the Armenian Youth Foundation urging Bryant
to give the money he earned from the ad to charity - for his penance.
Kobe, this ad may have taken you one step ahead in accomplishing another international endorsement, but the controversy it has created is much more acidic.
Neglecting the buzz and anger created in Los Angeles, Bryant and Turkish Airlines have arranged a launch party at Paramount Studios, along with a red carpet celebration.
The player will get a new fan following from around the world after this ad, but the fans he has in his town, might get bitterly offended.
The player expressed his joy at becoming a part of Turkish Airlines and was quoted as saying, “Turkey is a country rich in natural beauty and thousands of years of cultural history, and I’m proud to partner Turkish Airlines to bring that majesty to people
around the world.”
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