Norton Antivirus: Kimbo Slice Commercial
September 10, 2009
Norton’s newest antivirus commercial:
Payout Perspective:
If you’re looking for signs as to how far MMA has come, look no further than the latest Norton Antivirus commercial featuring Kimbo Slice.
The sport of MMA has managed to legitimize a once ridiculed and despised “street fighter” to the point that blue chip, Fortune 500 companies are willing to use him in their advertisements.
Somewhere, somebody is asking, “are we there yet?” The answer is still no, still not even close. But we’re seeing more and more signs everyday that the sport of MMA – the UFC in particular – and some of its personalities are taking on a level of popularity that is breaching the mainstream domain.
Patience.
One Response to “Norton Antivirus: Kimbo Slice Commercial”
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In no way does this commercial make any reference to MMA, instead it refers to Kimbo Slice as a “street fighter.” Also, Kimbo’s role in the commercial is that of a dangerous and annoying nemesis, who needs to be defended against, and in no way presents him as an elite athlete, which is the perception that MMA wants the greater public to take. A much better example of a positive step in the right direction was Rashad Evans appearing in a Microsoft commercial. This commercial may as well have been broadcast when Kimbo’s YouTube fights were fresh, as they were his claim to fame as a “street fighter.” In the context of the potential impact of the commercial, the fact that he has turned to mixed martial arts is of no consequence, and may even hurt his chances of ever being perceived as a true athlete.