Hahahaha! Oh God, this is just stunning! I’ve just found out that the Julius Malema puppet used in the recent Nando’s ads, has been sold at an auction for R100,000.

For those of you out of the loop, Nando’s very recently got into a bit of kak (or not really) after some controversial ads were released, featuring a puppet of the president of the ANC Youth League, Julius Malema.

This, from News24:

Johannesburg – The Julius Malema puppet has been auctioned off for R100 000, Nando’s said on Thursday.

 

The Julius Malema puppet

 

The puppet which starred in the fast food chain’s recent TV advert and became a “celebrity overnight” was sold to Ryan Lotter from Johannesburg.

It was auctioned for a charity group that funds, among other things, courses in woodwork, the subject Malema notoriously scored a GG for in matric.

“We are very sad to see Julius go because we have become very fond of him and has become a highlight in the office.

“We did however offer him one last Nando’s lunch and he’s always invited to Nando’s anytime,” Nando’s brand manager Lara Easthorpe said in a statement.

According to a report on Independent Online, Lotter said he was considering giving his new puppet to Democratic Alliance leader Helen Zille who Malema recently called a “racist little girl”.

Bidding in the auction went through The Star newspaper and ended at midnight on Wednesday.

The puppet first starred in an advert mocking the ANC Youth League leader’s “demand for change”.

“You order a quarter peri-peri chicken with chips and a cooldrink for R33.95,” said the puppet.

“You pay with R40, you get R6.05 change, but if you pay with R100, you get R66.05 change. That’s more change than you paid for the meal in the first place.”

After it was screened the ANCYL threatened “militant action” if Nando’s did not withdraw it. The chicken outlet, known for its risqué advertising campaigns, responded by reflighting the ad with the face of “Julius” blurred and his voice distorted.

It also featured a running strip at the bottom of the screen, declaring that the picture and sound had been masked to protect innocent parties.

[more here]

Nando’s responded that they had done nothing wrong and apparently they all had a big meeting, which included the ANC Youth League’s surprise at the fact that a black gentleman had been involved in the team that came up with the viral ad. This, following the usual accusations of racism.

Oh dearie dearie me.

Here is the ad:

Good times.

[thanks brian]