‘Racist’ accent in Simply Asia ad belongs to one of its Thai chefs

27 March 2019 - 08:51 By Dave Chambers
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A listener complained that the voice in a Simply Asia ad was fake ... but it belonged to a Thai chef.
A listener complained that the voice in a Simply Asia ad was fake ... but it belonged to a Thai chef.
Image: 123rf/Kidsada Manchinda

The “fake Asian accent” in a radio ad for restaurant chain Simply Asia angered a listener so much that she complained to the advertising watchdog.

But the voice belonged to a Thai chef who works full-time for Simply Asia, the chain told the Advertising Regulatory Board.

It said the group of more than 50 stores was owned by Thai national Chai Lekcharoensuk, “who would never make fun of his own culture and nationality”.

Aileen van der Mescht complained to the watchdog that the “fake” accent in the ad was “an offensive and racist stereotype”.

Simply Asia responded that it had received similar direct feedback, as a result of which it had amended the ad to include an introduction making clear the voice belonged to one of its chefs.

The watchdog’s directorate said it was satisfied with the change to the ad, and no further action was needed.

Lekcharoensuk’s restaurant empire began with Wang Thai in Cape Town in 1993. He launched Simply Asia in 2003, and it now spans the Western Cape, the Eastern Cape, Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal and has outlets in Botswana and Zimbabwe.


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