Omnivore - ‘¡Yo quiero mi dinero!’
A Chihuahua named Gidget takes Taco Bell to the cleaners
“I want my money!” Taco Bell owes a certain little dog $42 million:
A federal appeals court Friday ruled that Taco Bell is solely liable for $42 million in breach-of-contract awards to two Michigan men who created the diminutive mascot that starred in the Irvine fast-food giant’s hit $500-million advertising campaign in the 1990s.
TV commercials featured the dog decked out as a beret-sporting revolutionary or bandit in sombrero, stirring complaints that they amounted to derogatory depictions of Mexicans. But the spots featuring the Chihuahua and voice-over by actor Carlos Alazraqui were phenomenally successful.
The talking dog’s refrain “Yo quiero Taco Bell” became a pop-culture punch line, as well as “Drop the chalupa!” — an instant favorite with sports commentators — and “¡Viva Gorditas!” (Long live the little fat ones, the name of the Mexican food chain’s stuffed crunchy taco).