Gorbachev passed away, and the west was hotly discussing his advertisements for American brands such as Pizza Hut.
(Observer News) On the evening of August 30th, local time, mikhail gorbachev, the last leader of the former Soviet Union, died at the age of 91. After learning the news of his death, western media and netizens thought of an unexpected name-the American fast food brand "Pizza Hut".
US Newsweek reported on the 30th that after the news of Gorbachev’s death caused a shock around the world, the advertisement he shot for Pizza Hut in the 1990s spread on Twitter. The new york Times, The Independent and other western media also pointed out that Gorbachev had taken many commercial advertisements in the past, including the famous luxury brand LV, and said that he had actively promoted western brands to enter the Soviet Union during his reign.
These advertisements shot by Gorbachev have brought diametrically opposite comments at home and in the West. Western media reports all expressed appreciation for its participation in western brand advertising shooting and other activities. Fox News also called its appearance in Pizza Hut advertisements "a victory of western capitalism (against communism)".
Many Russians regard Gorbachev as the "culprit" of the disintegration of the Soviet Union, denouncing him for "betraying the Soviet Union" by advertising western brands. Today, some people left a message saying that "Gorbachev sold the Soviet Union to the West for Pizza Hut".
According to US media reports, after the news of mikhail gorbachev’s death came out, he searched for "Pizza Hut" on overseas search engines and social media, and almost all the search results were advertisements he shot for this American fast food brand in 1997.
The advertisement was forwarded by a large number of Twitter users, so that "Pizza Hut" once became an important related word in the news that Gorbachev died of illness.
In this advertisement, Gorbachev took his granddaughter into a Pizza Hut restaurant in Moscow and ate in the corner. Diners are arguing over his arrival. Young people think that Gorbachev’s actions have brought opportunities and hopes to the country, but middle-aged people complain that he has plunged the country into chaos and material shortage.
It was an old woman who finally ended the dispute. She said that thanks to Gorbachev, they had Pizza Hut. The customers in the whole restaurant held up the pizza and shouted "hail to Gorbachev".
This advertisement was finally broadcast internationally, but not in Russia. Business insider mentioned that advertising cost millions of dollars at that time, and a considerable part of it was spent on paying Gorbachev, because Gorbachev was "in great need of money" at that time.
In 2019, Russian satellite news agency reported that musgrave, an associate professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Massachusetts in the United States, published an article in Foreign Policy magazine, saying that Gorbachev shot an advertisement for Pizza Hut, a pizza chain, for money.
Gorbachev responded by saying, "I really needed funds at that time to ensure the normal operation of my foundation and social actions." But he also accused me that "there are always strange media … American journalists who decided to write all this, which made me feel very sad and wronged."
Western media reports all expressed appreciation for its participation in western brand advertising shooting and other activities. Fox News reported that Gorbachev’s appearance in Pizza Hut advertising was a major victory for the brand, which brought unprecedented popularity and attracted global attention. More importantly, it is "a victory of western capitalism".
The British media Independent also said that some westerners think that Gorbachev’s image in this advertisement means "the victory of capitalism over communism" and also named him "an incredible cultural idol".
Western countries called Gorbachev the "hero" who ended the Cold War, and a political analyst even said that "everyone in the West loves him (Gorbachev)" when interviewed by new york Buffalo TV 4.
Today, when foreign netizens reviewed this advertisement on Twitter in memory of the former Soviet leader, many people also expressed this idea. "This advertisement is a masterpiece, and one day some historians will say that it marks the real end of the Cold War."
Contrary to the attitude of the West, many Russians regard Gorbachev as the chief culprit of the disintegration of the Soviet Union. Looking back at this advertisement, some Russian netizens, pro-Russian netizens and others feel bad. "Now is a good time to remember Gorbachev’s Pizza Hut advertisement, which marks the end of communism after the disintegration of the Soviet Union."
Some people think that Gorbachev’s advertising of western brands is "betraying the Soviet Union". Today, some people left a message saying that "Gorbachev sold the Soviet Union to the West for Pizza Hut".
"Gorbachev betrayed the Soviet Union, leading to an unprecedented decline in living standards here. His legacy is to sell the resources and population of the Soviet Union to western companies, causing generations to be exploited. "
Someone even wrote very rudely: "I’m glad he lived long enough to see Pizza Hut close their restaurant in Russia."
In July this year, Yum! official website announced that its Pizza Hut business in Russia had been transferred, and that it would sell its KFC business in Russia and completely withdraw from Russia.
Many western media who reported this matter also mentioned that during Gorbachev’s reign, he actively promoted famous western brands to enter the Soviet Union. The new york Post took stock of Gorbachev’s commercial advertisements and called them "important moments" in Gorbachev’s cultural field.
According to the report, in addition to Pizza Hut advertisements, Gorbachev also made advertisements for "louis vuitton" (LV). In the advertisement, he passed the Berlin Wall in the back seat of a Khrushchev-era limousine, with an expensive LV handbag on his left hand and a magazine about the death of a former KGB spy in it. It is said that this idea was put forward by Gorbachev himself.
After the advertisement was broadcast, it caused great repercussions in Russia. Gorbachev said in an interview with French media that he was raising money to buy the latest equipment in Europe for a center for the treatment of leukemia children.
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