This just in from the Daily Mail: Keanu Reeves, David Beckham, and Sean Connery are stumping for Viagra-style drugs in China – apparently without their knowledge.
According to the Mail, the stars have appeared in badly dubbed commercials promoting the product, called USA Selikon. In the ads, David Beckham reportedly says, “It’s also the secret weapon with which I can satisfy Victoria”; Sir Sean Connery claims he recommends the drug to his “aged friends” and that it has spiced up his sex life with his wife “Barbara” (Connery has been married to Micheline Roquebrune for 32 years); and, perhaps the most confusing and amusing, Keanu Reeves claims, “The feelings after my kidneys got washed by USA Selikon capsules are surprising. And my girlfriends were also surprised.” What does that even mean?
Here’s the video. Can anyone translate to confirm?
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I showed this to a Taiwanese friend and he said that ‘healthy kidneys’ are related to a better sex life in China. Evidently a number of ads tout kidney health products for their sexual health benefits.
posted by KS on 2-27-2009 at 3:19 pm
That’s kind of to be expected with Chinese advertising. Someone snapped a picture of me on the street (a common event for foreigners in China) and I ended up on a billboard in Yantai advertising an English school… It was not the English school I was working for, which was a bit awkward!
I think most Chinese know that these things are just photoshopped pictures of foreigners / foreign celebs and don’t take it as a real endorsement.
posted by Meg on 2-27-2009 at 9:53 pm
To “wash kidneys” is the Chinese term for dialysis. Which is still puzzling, but maybe people in China equate any kidney treatment with dialysis.
Like how, in this country, eating cayenne pepper and maple syrup is referred to as a “cleanse.” Even though it does not literally cleanse anything.
posted by gmcfly on 2-28-2009 at 3:53 am
Here’s the translation:
“Beckham”: Do you want to know how I stay strong? This American product, Selicon [Chinese characters are "sheng li kang, which means "delivers strength and wellness] helps me so much. This is also my secret for satisfying my wife, Victoria.
“Kianu”: This stuff is so great! Senlicon cleans my kidney . . . of course it brings me multiple girlfriends!
“Sean Connery”: Don’t look down on me because I’m 70-plus years old. After using Senlicon, my wife Barbara says I’m still like a 25-year-old. I tell my old pals that we should ALL use Senlicon!
posted by Craig and Lily in Shanghai on 2-28-2009 at 6:13 am
be sure to check out Keanu in the new film Pippa Lee @ http://www.facebook.com/pippaleemovie
http://www.youtube.com/pippalee2009
posted by jonns on 11-4-2009 at 5:37 pm