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Kraft 'Zesty Salad Dressing' Guy

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The Resume

    (2013- )
    Also known as 'The Zesty Guy'
    Created by advertising agency, Being Inc.
    Catchphrase is 'how zesty do you want it?'
    Public face of the Kraft Foods 'Let's Get Zesty' campaign is their “Let’s Get Zesty' campaign promoting their brands of salad dressing
    Posed in ads for Kraft's Raspberry Vinaigrette, Classic Catalina, Thousand Island and Classic Ranch salad dressings
    Portrayed by model and fitness trainer Anderson Davis
    Frequently shot by photographer photographed by Douglas Friedman

Why he might be annoying:

    He sounds like Richard Thomas.
    He cooks in a very suggestive manner ('spanking' the dough, melting the butter with his 'hotness').
    He sometimes cooks wearing a kinky-looking 'French maid' apron.
    He constantly finds ways and excuses to randomly rip his plain white T-shirt off while cooking.
    He has the uncontrollable urge to bring salad dressing to 'non-culinary' locales (tennis court, horse stable, etc.); usually half-naked.
    He gives the impression that gaseous stove fumes could burn clothing off your body without leaving so much as a burn mark.
    A two-page People magazine full spread of 'Zesty Guy' enjoying a 'naked picnic' with the blanket strategically covering his genital area in an obscene fashion sparked controversy from family-oriented advocacy groups.
    Most infamously, the Christian family group, One Million Moms, released a public statement reading, 'shame on Kraft,' further announcing their intent to organize a nationwide boycott of Kraft products 'until they clean up their advertising' (June, 2013).
    At least Newman's Own Olive Oil speaks for itself. It's not like King Cool ever resorted to beefcake picnic shots to boost product sales (as far as we know...)

Why he might not be annoying:

    He's a macho man who can cook.
    Heck, he can even slice a red pepper mid-air with a kitchen knife in one fell swoop.
    He made salad dressing a hot topic and - in some cases - a weird new fetish.
    Kelly Ripa drooled over him when he came on Live with Kelly & Michael.
    Some male viewers mocked him for having a clean-shaven chest (maybe the stove fire burnt it off...?)
    He lives on a fattening brand of salad dressing, but works off the calories to maintain an enviable physique.
    Unlike the Old Spice Guy, if he's not unaware of how sexy he is, he at least doesn't brag about openly.
    He was a departure from Kraft's traditionally more conservative advertising approach.
    Kraft responded to the Million Moms boycott by releasing a statement reading: 'Our Kraft dressing's Let's Get Zesty campaign is a playful and flirtatious way to reach our consumers. People have overwhelmingly said they're enjoying the campaign and having fun with it.'
    If anything, the publicized 'boycott' only helped boost the sale of Kraft's salad dressing products (Kraft proceeded to bring him back for several more promotional shoots, as if to rub their noses in it).

Credit: BoyWiththeGreenHair


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 8 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 8 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 13 Votes: 23.08% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 11 Votes: 18.18% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 18 Votes: 55.56% Annoying