【16-18】Burger King Apologizes for Sexist Russian World Cup Ad

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*【16】WHAT'S TRENDING TODAY?

Burger King Apologizes for Sexist Russian World Cup Ad

June 21, 2018

FILE - A young Russian couple waits in line on the opening day at Russia's first Burger King fast food restaurant in Moscow on January 21, 2010. (AFP PHOTO / ANDREY SMIRNOV)

This is What’s Trending Today…

The American fast-food company Burger King has apologized for offering free hamburgers to Russian women if they got pregnant by World Cup soccer players.

Burger King Russia started the advertising campaign on VK, a Russian social media network similar to Facebook.

Burger King quickly removed the post from its social media sites. But social media users around the world shared images of the announcement.

The ad promised free burgers for women who were able to get “the best football genes” and “ensure the success of the Russian team for generations to come.”

Burger King’s American headquarters said in a statement Wednesday to the Associated Press, “We are sorry about the clearly offensive promotion that the team in Russia launched online.” It said the offer did not represent the company’s values. It added, “We are taking steps to ensure this type of activity does not happen again.”

Advertising in Russia sometimes includes sexist ideas. A female student from Moscow told the USA Today newspaper that Russian women are used to sexist advertising in their country. She said, “Companies know they can appeal to the basic instincts of Russian men in this way. My male friends thought it was funny. We get used to this."

Last year, Burger King Russia also published and then removed an ad making fun of a rape victim on social media.

And that's What's Trending Today.

Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on AP and other news reports. Ashley Thompson was the editor.

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

hamburger - n. a sandwich of flat, round cake of finely shopped beef

ensure - v. to make something sure, certain or safe

promotion - n. something such as advertising that is done to make people aware of something and increase its sale or popularity

instinct - n. a way of behaving, thinking, or feeling that is not learned

*【17】WHAT'S TRENDING TODAY?

Melania Trump's Jacket Choice Criticized

June 21, 2018

First lady Melania Trump walks to her vehicle as she arrives at Andrews Air Force Base, Md., Thursday, June 21, 2018, after visiting the Upbring New Hope Children Center run by the Lutheran Social Services of the South in McAllen, Texas. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

This is What's Trending Today...

American first lady Melania Trump wore a piece of clothing that read “I really don’t care, do u?” on her way to visit migrant children at a holding center in Texas. Some of the young people were children taken from their parents at the U.S. border with Mexico.

The green, military-style jacket is from the clothing seller Zara. The words were written in large white letters on the back.

Melania Trump’s spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, was asked to about the message on the clothing. She answered, “It’s a jacket. There was no hidden message. After today’s important visit to Texas, I hope the media isn’t going to choose to focus on her wardrobe. ”

Grisham underscored that message in a tweet with the hashtags #SheCares and #ItsJustAJacket.

However, a tweet from President Trump suggested there was a message. He wrote: “I REALLY DON’T CARE, DO U?” written on the back of Melania’s jacket, refers to the Fake News Media. Melania has learned how dishonest they are, and she truly no longer cares!"

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Trump changed into a different jacket before her plane landed in McAllen, Texas. She visited the Upbring New Hope Children’s Center there. It is holding 55 of the thousands of children under U.S. government supervision.

The first lady’s jacket quickly made her a trending topic on Twitter.

Twitter user RiotGrl posted: "If Michelle Obama had worn the jacket Melania Trump wore today, there would be civil war right now."

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Media personality Toure wondered in a Tweet whether Melania Trump or those around her gave much thought to the message on the jacket. He posted: "I’m confused about Melania’s jacket. I don’t believe she really meant to say she doesn’t care. I don’t buy that she’s that callous. But I don’t believe that neither she nor her staff realized the message she was sending. They all can’t be that clueless. So, I’m confused."

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Zara is a Spanish-based company with a large presence in the United States and around the world. It had no comment on the story. The jacket belongs to the company’s spring-summer 2016 season.

It is not the first time Melania Trump’s fashion choices have been criticized. Last August, the media and public discussed the high-heeled shoes she wore to fly to Texas to view Hurricane Harvey destruction. She had changed into white sneakers by the time she and the president landed.

And that's What's Trending Today.

I’m Caty Weaver.

U.S. first lady Melania Trump and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar (L) listen during a roundtable meeting at the Lutheran Social Services of the South "Upbring New Hope Children's Center" near the U.S.-Mexico border in McAllen

Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page.

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Words in This Story

jacket - n. a piece of clothing that is worn on your upper body over another one like a shirt

focus - v. to direct your attention at something

wardrobe - n. a collection of clothes that a person owns or wears

*【18】WHAT'S TRENDING TODAY?

Sridevi Wins Bollywood Award for Final Film Before Her Death

June 25, 2018

Sridevi arrives for the gala presentation of English Vinglish during the Toronto International Film, September 14, 2012, in Toronto, Canada. (REUTERS/Mark Blinch)

This is What's Trending Today...

Bollywood actor Sridevi was among Indian film performers honored at the International Indian Film Academy Awards, or IIFA.

The awards show, which ended on Sunday, is Bollywood’s biggest event of the year. This year it took place in Bangkok, Thailand.

Sridevi received the best actress award for her final movie, Mom, a crime film that came out last year. She played a woman seeking justice after her stepdaughter was raped.

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Sridevi was Bollywood’s leading female actor in the 1980s and 1990s. She is considered the first female superstar in India’s mostly male film industry.

She was reported to have accidentally drowned in February while in Dubai for a wedding. She was 54 years old.

Her husband, Bollywood film producer Boney Kapoor, accepted her award. He became emotional during the acceptance speech. “I miss her every moment of my life,” he said.

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His brother, Anil Kapoor, later came on stage to support him. Anil said of Sridevi, “The country, the world and our family misses you.”

The leading film going into the award ceremony, “Tumhari Sulu,” was named best picture prize. The film tells about a housewife who becomes a radio personality. It had seven total nominations.

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Director Saket Chaudhary and actor Irrfan Khan won top awards for “Hindi Medium,” a story of parents seeking a good education for their daughter.

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Khan is best known internationally for his work in Jurassic World.

The IIFA awards are held each year in cities around the world. The event celebrates the Hindi-language film industry with awards and performances.

And that's What's Trending Today.

I’m Ashley Thompson.

The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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