Dodge Used Part of a Martin Luther King Jr. Speech in Its Super Bowl Ad and People Aren't Having It

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(Image credit: Twitter)

published 5 February 18

During the Super Bowl, Dodge Ram ran an ad that used part of a Martin Luther King Jr. speech, and people were not pleased.

"In the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Ram truck owners also believe in a life of serving others," Dodge wrote in the description of the ad on YouTube. "They serve because they’re driven by a higher calling. They serve because they feel a shared responsibility and commitment to their family and community. They serve because they’re men and women of their word. They serve because they know the world could use a little more kindness."

Many people on Twitter were upset with the company's decision to use the speech during a commercial, especially during Black History Month. Here are some of the best tweets about the problematic ad.

Using MLK Jr. speeches to sell trucks during Black History Month? 😒February 5, 2018

Not totally sure the Dodge RAM ad guys read that whole MLK speech.. https://t.co/QPa16BGv3d pic.twitter.com/3eFVZjb3BBFebruary 5, 2018

Not sure MLK’s dream was to drive a Dodge Ram.February 5, 2018

Yeah, because who knew MLK was talking about a Dodge Ram? Here I thought he was talking about equality.February 5, 2018

"I have a dream that my children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their fully loaded Dodge Ram 1500."February 5, 2018

I’m not sure what product I WOULDN’T feel icky about Martin Luther King, Jr., shilling for via archival audio, but Dodge Ram is pretty far down that list anyway.February 5, 2018

The worst commercials are those that use icons like Martin Luther King Jr to sell things like a Dodge Ram truck.February 5, 2018

Kayleigh Roberts

Kayleigh Roberts is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, covering celebrity and entertainment news, from actual royals like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle to Hollywood royalty, like Katie Holmes and Chrissy Teigen. She’s a Ravenclaw who would do great things in Slytherin. To learn more about her, google “Leslie Knope eating salad GIF.