Coalition calls on ad agency and 12 car dealers in seven states who bought ads to stop their usage
BLOOMFIELD, N.J., June 21, 2012 — The Italian American ONE VOICE Coalition – the nation's largest Italian American anti-bias organization – has launched a national campaign asking RYNO Production Inc., a Pennsylvania advertising company, and at least 12 car dealers in seven states that purchased a "mafia-puppet" ad campaign from a division of RYNO, to immediately halt their usage and distribution.
Andre DiMino, President of ONE VOICE, noted that ONE VOICE activists have begun calling and emailing these car dealerships to ask them to halt their usage. RYNO Production Inc., which is based in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, produced 17 TV spots using mafia-puppets in an ad campaign dubbed "Tired of wise guys, bad deals" that, according to ONE VOICE, defames Italian Americans.
"We have received numerous complaints about these ads being offensive and perpetuating stereotypes of Italian Americans," DiMino said. "In this difficult economic climate, why would you even think of making and using a campaign that stereotypes and insults Italian Americans? It doesn't make sense. Italian Americans are the fifth largest ethnic sector of the US population – why would you want to alienate them?"
DiMino also noted the TV ads are perceived as a direct attack on Italian American car dealers across the US and have even been made into a multimedia blitz – including fliers, YouTube videos, and billboards.
Through its cardealercommercials.com division, RYNO Production, rynopro.com, offers 17 different spots featuring mafia-puppets – Johnny Car-Lot, Backseat Benny, Frankie the Fixer and Tony Two-Trunks – that speak with accents, use mob-style slang, and are featured vandalizing cars, threatening customers, and making "an offer, you better not refuse," according to the website which promotes the ads at:
Some of the ads are entitled: "bada bing," "we both lose," "whoa geeze," "talking to me," and "cannoli."
The website lists the following dealerships that purchased the ads, and many have begun running them: 1.) Avondale Dodge-Chrysler, AZ, 2.) Majestic Honda, RI, 3.) Tucson Chrysler-Jeep, AZ, 4.) Superior Mazda, AR, 5.) Jack Daniels Kia, NJ, 6.) Village Toyota-Scion, FL, 7.) Lester Raines Imports, WV, 8.) Durand Chevrolet, MA, 9.) Nissan-Santa Rosa, CA, 10.) Lithia Nissan, OR, 11.) Lithia Chevrolet, AR, 12.) Eastchester Chrysler-Dodge, NY.
ONE VOICE has apprised a wide number of other Italian American organizations, including UNICO, NIAF, and OSIA, about the ads, DiMino noted.
ONE VOICE is different from other Italian American groups in that its sole focus and objective is to fight bias, stereotyping and discrimination against Italian Americans. It is the only national Italian American organization with this exclusive mandate. Visit www.iaovc.org
ONE VOICE issues an email newsletter, "The Alfano Digest," by ONE VOICE Founder and Chair, Manny Alfano, to more than 5,000 individuals and Italian American organizations nationwide.
Contact:
Sebastian D'Elia, Communications Director, 908-770-3662
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