A recent Walmart advertisement has attracted controversy for featuring the phrase, “I can’t breathe”. Viewer complaints have deemed it insensitive due to the relation to the recent events surrounding Eric Garner.

The ad features an African-American father and daughter sitting on the sofa, discussing the Walmart family mobile plan. When the father surprises the daughter with a phone, she joyfully embraces him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

Hugged tightly, the father says, “I can’t breathe”.

The disputed phrase has become a rallying cry for protests following the videotaped death of Eric Garner, which included him clearly stating, “I can’t breathe”.

Though the intent behind Walmart’s advertisement was not to reference the recent incident or offend viewers, it could not have come at a worse time. Walmart has since edited the commercial, removing the phrase entirely.

It also responded through its Twitter account, writing, “We’re re-editing as we speak based on feedback we’ve received,” and, “We can see how the ad could be viewed differently today than when it first aired,” though it is unclear exactly how long it has been airing. Walmart representatives have claimed it began to run in early summer, but declined to give an exact date.

While negative reactions forced the change in Walmart’s ad campaign, some Twitter users have stepped in to defend the giant retailer, calling the commercial, “a cute and happy commercial”.

FSA Connection Questions

1. The offer seems to offer what main idea?

2. Select two sentences from the article that best support the main idea.

3. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article?

4. What information, if added, could support the author’s purpose?

5. Which sentence from the article contains an opinion?