VIDEO: Ashton Kutcher's New Popchips Ad Criticized For Racial Insensitivity

by UInterviewMay 3, 2012, 12:00 amNews >

No matter what he does, Ashton Kutcher, 34, can't seem to redeem the damage his rocky divorce from superstar Demi Moore, 49, had on his image. After his relative Two and a Half Men success and a well-timed Twitter scandal continued to spice things up, social media buff and Punk'd producer Kutcher is in the midst of controversy again — this time with an ad for Popchips that has the online community up in arms.

The ad features Kutcher promoting Popchips dressed as four different characters, all bachelors who are being interviewed for a dating service. The characters are Nigel, a barefoot, dreadlocked stoner who keeps emphasizing the word "high" in his speech, as a subtle hint to the ladies; Darl, a Karl Lagerfeld-inspired artist; Swordfish, a long-haired biker and a self-proclaimed lover of poetry; and finally Raj, a Bollywood producer who says — in a stereotypical Indian accent while Kutcher's face is painted brown — that he is "looking for the most delicious thing on the planet … like Kardashian hot. I would give that dog a bone."

The viral ad was briefly pulled from Popchips' YouTube page, but is back available (watch below). While Kutcher has not yet responded to the hype surrounding the video, reports MTV, a spokesperson for Popchips released a statement saying, "The new Popchips worldwide dating video and ad campaign featuring four characters was created to provoke a few laughs and was never intended to stereotype or offend anyone," according to The Hollywood Reporter. "At Popchips we embrace all types of shapes, flavors and colors, and appreciate all snackers, no matter their race or ethnicity. We hope people can enjoy this in the spirit it was intended."

Watch the Popchips ad, which features a "cameo" of the real Kutcher at the end, here: