TURKCELL REPLY!

Dear Ms Conner Farris,

We have carefully read your letter regarding our roaming commercial and we are sorry to hear that you were offended by the scenario of the film. I want to ensure you that our intentions were never to insult any of our viewers, or the people with African origin. We would like to give you some information about the objective and the background of this advertisement in order to clarify our intent.

As you may know; every advertising has a communication objective. For that particular advertising, we want to communicate that “Turkcell customers can call Turkey wherever they might go, even to the most distant places on earth. Especially now, with attractive prices”.

In order to exemplify “the most distant places”, we chose our setting as the deep Africa jungle. The setting could have been the North Pole with Eskimo’s or the Mongolian desert with Mongolians or Rain Forests with local tribes. As you can imagine, any of these choices could make the point that Turkcell’s services are available across 160+ countries around the world.

As our example setting was deep in the African jungle, we have illustrated a tribal environment. As the story goes, our Turkish group enters a territory without permission and as it would be in anywhere in the world, entering a country or private property without proper permission, you can be held by local security officials. Following their capture, our group is talking about calling Turkey to get help. We assume you would understand that regardless of the setting, anywhere in the world, the above mentioned story would be true.

Non-Turkcell users in the story are hesitating to call Turkey due to high roaming charges. Our Turkcell customer on the other hand carries out conversation worry-free due to Turkcell’s roaming packages. This message is the essence of the commercial. As with many other commercials, it communicates the offer by comparing its benefits side by side with the competitors.

We want to emphasize again, that we never intended to mock or cause any offense to you, nor the people with African origin. Nor, have we communicated that all Africans are living in the jungle under the same conditions. Like most of the movies, TV commercials are also derived from fictious stories and as Turkcell, our inteniton would never be to offend anyone from any race, gender, profession or nationality.

We do hope that the above explanation satisfies you.

Kind regards,

A******* A*******

Marketing Communications Division *****

Turkcell Communications Services

Dear Vodaphone-A Love Letter

Dear Vodaphone,

I have just gotten out of a bad relationship so I’m sure you’ll understand why I’m a bit hesitant to get into another relationship so soon but I’ve been watching you for a while and I like what I’ve seen, so far. I hope you don’t find me too forward but I am the type of woman who goes after what she likes. People have been telling me about you for years, many of my friends like you a lot and they think that we are compatible.

My last beau, Turkcell, was more concerned with exploiting people and perpetuating negative stereotypes than furthering the cause of an informed enlightened world community. How shortsighted and selfish!! We slowly grew apart. I’ve learned (I have my sources, you know) that you are forward thinking and promote diversity. I would love to talk about this further! Is it true that you said your “vision is to have an inclusive culture which respects, values, celebrates and makes the most of the diversity of your people?” That is so attractive to me! You are surely the opposite of my ex! I can’t wait to hear you softly whisper to me your ideology regarding ethical business practices and responsibility-I have chills already! Oh, please don’t think I’m naughty! It’s just so exciting to know you and I look forward to our future together. There definitely is a “world of difference” between you and that irresponsible, unethical creep I spent three years with!

You may ask why it took so long, why I spent so much time in such a destructive, abusive relationship. Well, it wasn’t always like that. In the beginning, Turkcell was a little silly but it was one of the things that I found endearing. Oh, there were promises broken and a few indiscretions but I always looked the other way because I really wanted to make the relationship work. It wasn’t until the “cannibal ad” debacle that I began to see Turkcell in an honest light. Turkcell is now free to go on abusing whomever they choose-without me. Turkcell showed me that they didn’t really care about me, anyway. Yes, I was just another proverbial notch on the Turkcell belt but I feel that you are different. Please tell me that you are different, Vodaphone! I can’t spend my future years in a relationship with another insensitive, irresponsible racist!

Well, I have poured out my heart to you. I hope it wasn’t too much too soon but I get the feeling that we have the same ideals-the same heart.

With all my love,

Aundreta Conner Farris

Bye, Bye Turkcell

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xkpv4m_turkcell-ozturkcell-afrika_shortfilms

Dear Turkcell,

Thank you for furthering the cause of ignorance in Türkiye with the airing of your ÖzTurkcell commercial which depicts Turkish people sitting in huge pots in Africa while waiting to be served up for dinner to a group of savage Africans. This was just the image that Türkiye needed at this time as they pursue humanistic efforts in Somalia. In fact, it may have been possible to see the story about Turkish aid in Somalia on the news and then be brought back down to reality with your genius commercial. Good for you, Turkcell! Job well done!

Not only have you succeeded in perpetuating negative stereotypes, you have also made it very difficult for me to watch Turkish television with the fear that I may be insulted over and over by these images. I thank you because I needed to read more, anyway. This commercial has made it a bit more difficult for me to use public transportation and frequent shopping areas and restaurants, too, since children who are already afraid of my dark skin now have confirmation from you that I am waiting for the proper moment to pounce on them and make them my afternoon snack. I needed to walk more, anyway and the money I'll save from not eating out and shopping will come in handy, I’m sure. I also want to thank you for illumining students and teachers who come from African nations, Europe, America and other foreign places to educate and be educated in Türkiye. We were all beginning to suffer from a false dream of security and acceptance from which we needed to be violently awakened. In this vein, I do, indeed, have peace of mind or “kafası rahat,” as you say. What about the home-grown people with African roots, the Afrika Kökenli Türkler? I cannot speak for them but I’m sure that they must appreciate you, too. I like how your commercial seems to indicate a wild abandon and dismissal of the UNESCO 2010 International Year of Rapprochement, which aimed to do something crazy like, integrate “the principles of dialogue and mutual knowledge…in hope of correcting flawed cultural representations, values and stereotypes.” You’re right, Turkcell, that is so last year!! (http://www.unesco.org/culture/pdf/2010/2010_leaflet_en) Anyway, the European Union named Istanbul the European Capital of Culture in 2010, why do you need to pander to UNESCO? I get it, really!

With all of this said, Turkcell, I must say that I have to part company with you. Yes, this is a “Dear John,” or “Dear Turkcell” letter. With all of your success in helping me to read more, walk more, save money and not live in a fantasy of acceptance, I still have this sneaking suspicion that we are growing apart. I know, it’s me, not you. I could say, I want to concentrate on my career, as a proponent of tolerance but that seems a bit too cliche. Yes, I know, you quite enjoy cliche but I’m afraid, it’s over. I need to explore other options, other companies which may not need to exploit people to sell services. Of course, I know you’ll find somebody new to mock but for now, my dear, sweet Turkcell, we’re through.

Warmest regards,

Aundreta Conner Farris (ex-subscriber)

P.S.

Discontinuing the commercial is not enough. You need to publicly apologize. If not to the people of African descent who happily reside in Türkiye, then to the tolerant Turkish people whom you have misrepresented with this offensive commercial and the Afrika Kökenli Türkler with whom you share nationality. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.

P.S.S.

http://www.stevebaric.ws/index.php/2011/09/03/response-to-zaman-zaman-bye-bye-turkcell/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=response-to-zaman-zaman-bye-bye-turkcell