South African Chicken Chain Uses Brutal Dictators in Ad

South African chicken chain Nando's — you may recall Nando's from their Reggie Watts ad — is causing all kinds of trouble with this ad that uses frolicking murderous dictators to sell their chicken family packs. Featuring an impersonator of Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe who realizes, sadly, that all his pals are gone, the ad goes on to see Mugabe reminisce about the rollicking good times he had with deceased friends like Saddam Hussein and Muammar Gaddafi before wrapping up with the tagline "This time of year, no one should have to eat alone."

Militants in Zimbabwe are proposing a boycott of the chain, but the company that franchises Nando's locations in Zimbabwe said they had no idea the South African locations were planning on running the ad. They have released a statement saying they "strongly feel the advertisement is insensitive and in poor taste." Here's the commercial:

Video: Nando's Dictators Ad

· Nando's Dictators Ad [YouTube via Fast Company]
· Zimbabwe Militants Seek Restaurant Boycott Over Ad Showing Leader as “Last Dictator Standing” [AP]
· All Nando's Coverage on Eater [-E-]