Is This XM Radio Ad Offensive?

Let me know what you think about this advertisement by XM radio. Watch the ad then read the article from Diversity Inc.com.



XM Radio ran a "gold tooth" ad on "60 Minutes" Sunday night—the latest in a string of multicultural missteps that have cost national corporations millions of dollars. Watch the video below:

The ad, which features a "gold-toothed" man and background music from black rapper Snoop Dogg at the very end, is dangerously reminiscent of the one that got Toyota in serious trouble not so long ago.

In 2001, Toyota Motor Co. faced harsh criticism for airing an ad featuring a black man with a gold tooth. At the time, the Rev. Jesse Jackson and his RAINBOW/Push Coalition publicly denounced the ad, claiming it was offensive to blacks, and threatened a national boycott on Toyota products. By 2002, the automaker formed a seven-member diversity advisory board to hold Toyota accountable for its diversity commitment.

It remains to be seen whether or not Jackson will take a position on XM's new ad campaign.

The recent ad is part of XM Radio's new multimedia marketing campaign, according to Orbitcast. The campaign, designed by XM's new ad agency, Lowe New York, uses the waves of the XM logo and music from Johnny Cash, The Circle Jerks, Beethoven, Snoop Dogg and other artists. The intent is to draw attention to XM's music offerings.