Everyone loves pizza – it tastes smells good, tastes good, and makes everything better.
Even communist Russia knows pizza is the language of the people, so much so that they developed a Pizza Hut commercial with ex-president Mikhail Gorbachev. Yes, seriously – the real life Mikhail Gorbachev was in a Pizza Hut TVC.
Russia is known for being shamelessly political and, more specifically, shamelessly communist. There is no time for shame when you have a political campaign and communist agenda to fulfil – a truth which Mikhail Gorbachev apparently knew all too well because he agreed to star in the commercial in the first place.
According to The New York Times, Gorbachev agreed to the appearance (which was filmed in a Moscow Pizza Hut, in case you were wondering) because “he badly needed the money to finance his foundation, a research institute that bears his name.”
(which was filmed in a Moscow Pizza Hut, in case you were wondering) because “he badly needed the money to finance his foundation, a research institute that bears his name.”
(which was filmed in a Moscow Pizza Hut, in case you were wondering) because “he badly needed the money to finance his foundation, a research institute that bears his name.”
He “declined many other offers to endorse products but made an exception for Pizza Hut.” Lucky them. Like I said, everybody loves pizza, even Russian politicians.
Gorbachev also probably agreed to the commercial to defend his reputation and boost his popularity in Russia.
A quick history lesson for you:
“Esteemed in the West as the statesman who ended the cold war, Mr. Gorbachev is extremely unpopular in Russia, where he is blamed for allowing the Soviet Union to fall apart and for not having pushed reform of the command economy far enough,” The New York Times explains.
The TVC features two men arguing about the good and bad things Gorbachev did for Russia and ultimately agreeing that he should be celebrated.
My favourite line is “Because of him we have many things…like Pizza Hut!”. Yep, not only did Gorbachev star in the commercial, but he took credit for bringing Pizza Hut to Russia. People might not have liked him, but they at least liked pizza and that’s the same thing, right?
The irony of the commercial, however, is that it was not broadcast in Russia.
If the commercial was aired Gorbachev would have caused Pizza Hut sales in Moscow to drop dramatically.
So apparently, everyone loves pizza unless you’re Russian and the pizza in question is being endorsed by a politician you don’t like.
Ah politics.