Burger King's Misuse of SpongeBob SquarePants Sparks Controversy
Burger King faced backlash in 2009 for a controversial ad featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, where dancers with square-shaped rear ends gyrated to a parody of Sir-Mix-A-Lot's song "Baby Got Back." Critics argued that the ad sexualized a character primarily marketed to children, sparking a heated debate. Burger King defended the ad, stating it was meant for adults to enjoy and goof around with pop culture figures. The commercial had a short lifespan on TV but continued to circulate on social media, reigniting controversy. This incident was not the first time SpongeBob faced criticism, and Burger King has a history of edgy commercials.