Why yes, that is a not-so-young Vito Corleone sporting a beanie and suspenders
A celebrity having the same name as a product is some strange form of serendipity that is sometimes capitalized on in creative ways. For example, singer Bebe Rexha recently teamed up with fashion retailer Bebe, which makes sense for the 20-something and her personal brand. However, some collaborations make us scratch our heads a bit and wonder, “Why?”
Speaking of Commercials: The new Kia Soul ad campaign has no room for hamsters
Two-time Academy Award-winning actor Robert De Niro has had an illustrious career, with pivotal roles in films like The Godfather Part II, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, and countless others. So why would the Raging Bull actor star in a Kia commercial promoting one of its SUVs? Our guess is the gig paid well and because the ads are primarily airing in the UK.
De Niro gets schooled about the fully electric Kia e-Niro
But the internet is forever, and De Niro’s Kia Niro ads made it to the Kia UK YouTube channel and quickly caught the attention of many, even us here in the States. In the first ad, the esteemed actor shows up to a commercial set dressed like something of a lumberjack hipster — rolled jeans, suspenders, black-rimmed glasses, beanie, and all. Capitalizing on the joke that De Niro is old (har har), the director corrects the actor and says, “It’s not ‘De Niro’ like Robert De Niro. It’s the Niro… the car,” while De Niro pulls out a pair of reading glasses to substitute his seemingly fake trendy lenses.
Buying vs. Leasing: Which should you choose for your new Niro?
De Niro also appears in a few other less cringe-worthy ads where he’s wearing his normal old guy clothes and talks about all of the great features of the Kia e-Niro, which just debuted in the UK. In one ad, De Niro showcases the comfortable cabin while ordering a pizza and, in another, he shows how spacious the interior is when he opens the liftgate and his voice echoes. The e-Niro has already won the “Affordable Electric Car of the Year” award at Auto Express New Car Awards 2019, but having an Oscar-winning actor promote the electric SUV is just icing on the cake for Kia.
Watch Robert De Niro in the new Kia e-Niro ads:
Morgan [she/her] has lived all over the place and is now living in Ohio. When she’s not writing about cars, she can be found spotting Canadian actors in film and television, testing her caffeine tolerance levels, or playing board games with her wife. See more articles by Morgan.
