“Chairman Novak, the PTC has been here before with little to no response from Yum! Surely, you understand how Yum!’s irresponsibility in the media marketplace can undermine the good name of your family brands. KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Long John Silver’s are family-friendly chains. It is a shame that that their parent, Yum! Brands, does not demonstrate leadership as a responsible corporate citizen. The company’s consistent pattern of advertising shows that it supports some of the most violent and vulgar programming on television.
“It is clear to me, and to the Parents Television Council’s 1.3 million members, that YUM! does not have media guidelines in place to keep its name off of programs containing abhorrent graphic and explicit content.
“Over the past year Yum! has sponsored such shows as ‘24,’ ‘Family Guy,’ and ‘American Dad’ on the FOX television network. ‘Family Guy’ is known for its disgusting content, but one recent episode in particular sponsored by Yum! Brands stands out. In this episode, a talking cartoon dog ate the feces out of a baby’s diaper, then ate the baby’s vomit, then licked the baby’s rear end. What message does it send to consumers that a group of restaurants is comfortable sponsoring this kind of program?
“The PTC’s message to Yum! Brands is this – your advertising dollars reflect your corporate values. I doubt the Board of Directors or the shareholders would be proud of this program that your media dollars supported.
“I am pleading with you, on behalf of millions of Americans, to stop underwriting sleaze and adopt responsible advertising guidelines that will keep Yum! Brands off of programming that contains foul language, gratuitous sex, and graphic violence. Please embrace your responsibility to society by being an economic, intellectual and social asset to the television viewing community.
“Will Yum! continue paying for the ‘cultural sewage’ that is delivered into our homes on a nightly basis? Or, will Yum! Brands be a responsible corporate citizen and dedicate its advertising dollars toward sponsoring pro-social, family-friendly programming?
“The Parents Television Council has been here before and unfortunately has been repeatedly referred to subordinates who do not have the authority to make a significant change in your media buying. I urge you to schedule a meeting with us directly whereby we may share with you a programming clip tape that will demonstrate Yum!’s activity in the marketplace.
“May I approach you now and hand-deliver these letters from over 240 concerned parents regarding Yum! advertising practices? I hope that I will be able to tell them that Yum! Brands is adopting advertising guidelines that reflect its corporate values.”
