Cadillac disavows casting call for
'neo-Nazi' character in brand ad
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[December 12, 2016]
By Joseph White
DETROIT (Reuters) - General Motors Co's
<GM.N> Cadillac brand on Saturday disavowed a casting notice that called
for an "alt-right (neo nazi)" role in a Cadillac commercial amid a storm
of outrage on social media.
The casting notice, circulated on Twitter and Facebook, said an agency
was looking for "any and all real alt-right thinkers/believers" and
indicated the call was for a Cadillac advertisement to be filmed later
this month.
The alt-right is a loose grouping characterized by a rejection of
mainstream politics that includes neo-Nazis, white supremacists and
anti-Semites. The alt-right came to the fore during the U.S.
presidential election.
Cadillac officials said on Saturday the brand "did not authorize or
approve a casting notice for an 'alt-right (neo-nazi)' role in a
commercial. We unequivocally condemn the notice and are seeking
immediate answers from our creative agency, production company and any
casting companies involved."
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The Cast Station, a casting service, on Saturday afternoon posted on its
Facebook page that a casting notice "for an "alt-right" role in a
Cadillac commercial was issued by mistake on Friday, Dec 9th. The notice
was drafted by an employee, who was immediately terminated for her
actions. Additionally an outside third party further altered the
breakdown without our knowledge and posted it on social media. Cadillac
unequivocally did not authorize this notice or anything like it, and we
apologize to Cadillac for the ex-employee's actions."
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A view shows the logo of Cadillac on a car in Moscow, Russia, July
6, 2016. REUTERS/Maxim Zmeyev
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The notice also called for "real current or retired military
people," as well as "real Olympian runner/cyclist" and "real taxi
driver."
Another version of the casting call posted on social media described
the planned "Cadillac - Real People" commercial as a "beautifully
artistic spot that is capturing (sic) all walks of life in America.
Standing together as a union. This is not meant to be offensive in
any way. Just a representation of all sides."
(Reporting by Joe White; Editing by Matthew Lewis and David
Gregorio)
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