Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) released a campaign ad on Wednesday for her Tennessee gubernatorial run that features her crushing fortune cookies to demonstrate her toughness on China. The ad has drawn widespread criticism for its racist undertones and cultural inaccuracies, as the imagery she uses is not actually Chinese.
The Ad's Content
In the video, Blackburn asks, “How hard am I gonna crack down on China?” before crushing fortune cookies with her fingers. A narrator praises her toughness and her close work with President Donald Trump. Blackburn concludes, “It doesn’t take a fortune cookie to figure it out. Here in Tennessee, we’re going to stop communist China and protect Tennessee land,” with her hands resting on a pile of crushed cookie remains.
Cultural Inaccuracies
Fortune cookies are not Chinese. They are largely an American invention with roots in Japan. The South China Morning Post noted in 2024, “They are seldom found in China, primarily because they are not inherently Chinese. There is not even a universally recognised Chinese equivalent word for the English term ‘fortune cookies.’” The ad also features a waving “lucky cat,” or maneki-neko, which is Japanese, though commonly seen in Chinese businesses. The soy sauce on the table is Kikkoman, a Japanese brand, and the ad ends with a gong sound.
Critics React
Critics denounced the ad as racist and ignorant. Spencer Rothbell called it “blatantly racist, red scare mongering garbage.” Kurt Bardella questioned the relevance to Tennessee governance, noting the state ranks 44th in health care, 20th in public school performance, and last in per-student spending and quality of life. Chuck Todd remarked, “Some TV ads are subtle and some… well.” Others highlighted the irony that fortune cookies are American, with Eric Hovagim stating, “this is the perfect analogy because the fortune cookie is literally an American invention.” Ben Norton added, “Fortune cookies were invented by Japanese immigrants in the US. They don't eat them in China.” Aaron Reichlin-Melnick confirmed, “Fortune cookies were invented in America and basically do not exist in China.”
