# Deliberate Ad Discrimination? Milk Commercial Adds to Many Misinterpreted Ads By Andrew Robichaud | Published 2009-05-15 | Marketing Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/deliberate-discrimination-milk-commercial References: [asylum](http://www.asylum.com/2009/05/14/white-cow-milk-commercial-officially-not-racist/) & [slate](http://www.slate.com/id/2164062/slideshow/2164626/fs/0//entry/2164627/) When it comes to advertisements, perception plays a large part in the way they are received by viewers. The video above is a new milk ad that is suspected of being discriminatory towards African-Americans. For as long as [discrimination and ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/above-the-bias) have existed there has always been a conflict within the perception of ads that border the fine line between just a commercial, and potential racism--dating back to the first time the world met Aunt Jemima and Uncle Ben. This milk advertisement, while intending to simply sell a product or service, has the potential to be misinterpreted as discrimination. You decide! ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 37% | Activity: 92% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Marketing](https://www.trendhunter.com/marketing) > [Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/commercials) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Perception-based Marketing:** Marketing that takes into account how people interpret and react to ads can avoid misinterpretations and increase advertising effectiveness. - **Diverse Advertising:** Creating ads that showcase and appeal to a variety of cultures and backgrounds to avoid discriminatory perceptions. - **Ad Discrimination Monitoring:** The use of technology to monitor ads for potential discriminatory perceptions. ### Who This Affects Most - **Advertising Industry:** Incorporating perception-based marketing and diverse advertising into ad campaigns can increase effectiveness and avoid controversies. - **Media and Entertainment Industry:** Creating diverse and inclusive content can reflect the rich and vibrant variety of humanity and avoid potential backlash from viewers. - **Technology Industry:** Developing ad discrimination monitoring tools can help companies detect and avoid negative perceptions and controversies. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Puppet-Starring Oat Milk Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/new-norm-al-show.md) - [Artistic Multi-Beverage Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cocacola-family.md) - [Puppet-Themed Alt Milk Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cereal-and-almond-milk.md) - [Marketer-Targeted Cereal Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/out-of-home-campaign.md) - [Comical Lawsuit-Inspired Campaigns](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glebe-farms-oatly-lawsuit.md) - [Love-Centric Public Service Announcements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/love-has-no-labels1.md) - [Social Experiment Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/simply-coffee-caf.md) - [Musical Milk Substitute Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/silk-ad.md) - [Authenticity-Celebrating Commercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/colgate-commercial.md)