Pelicana Chicken issued an official apology after an advertisement made with artificial intelligence (AI) sparked backlash. Online critics condemned the spot for a premise that evoked infidelity and for provocative staging.
On May 9, Pelicana posted to its official Instagram account: “We sincerely apologize for the discomfort and disappointment caused by the recently uploaded content.”
The company said the content was posted without adequate consideration of its appropriateness or of broader social sensibilities, and that it caused discomfort and concern for many people.
Pelicana said it had removed the offending post and was taking the matter seriously.
The company added that it will strengthen its content planning and review processes, instituting stricter internal standards and oversight to prevent a recurrence.
The disputed video depicts a “fried-chicken” couple whose child is portrayed as a sauced, or “yangnyeom,” chicken (yangnyeom refers to a sweet-and-spicy Korean fried-chicken style).
The spot then shows the wife kissing a sauced-chicken man. Later, as the husband drinks and appears distraught, a woman portrayed as a Pelicana doctor approaches and says, “Let’s get revenge.”
Some social media users criticized the ad, saying it trivialized infidelity and exploited the subject for shock value.
The ad is reported to parody a viral AI video series known as “Strawberry Girl,” which similarly drew criticism for repeatedly portraying a woman involved with multiple partners and recurring pregnancy and childbirth.
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