The new advert for the car company, to be shown in the lucrative Superbowl 30-minute slot this weekend, shows a white office worker from Minnesota talking in a Jamaican accent and telling all his Monday-hating co-workers to look on the bright side.
“You know what this room needs? A smile,” is but a sample of advice for his colleagues. “Turn the frown the other way around!”.
New York Times columnist Charles Bow has criticised it for being “like blackface with voices”.
The ad, called Get In. Get Happy, was researched by talking to 100 Jamaicans, VW marketing officer Tim Mahoney has said in response to the negative reactions the new ad has received. .
What do you think – is it offensive or funny?
