Mississippi has a brutal new promotional ad, courtesy of Funny or Die

Mississippi&#039;s fake new promotional ad

(Image credit: Funny or Die)

published 7 April 2016

On Tuesday, Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant (R) signed a "religious freedom" law that appears to allow businesses to refuse services to gay couples if they are opposed to same-sex marriage on religious grounds. The law has not been universally welcomed, with Minnesota, New York, Vermont, and Washington banning nonessential state employee travel to Mississippi, joined by a handful of large cities. North Carolina has lost some business because of an anti-LGBT law it passed, and Mississippi may face a similar backlash from large employers. This new video from Funny or Die offers the Magnolia State a new promotional video to go along with its new law, though Mississippi's tourism board won't welcome it:

"Thanks to Gov. Bryant, we have an oppressive law to match our oppressive heat," the ad says. "Here, you can march to the beat of your own drum, as long as that beat harkens back to 1888." Funny or Die even offers a new slogan: "Visit Mississippi — We're even worse than North Carolina." Don't expect to see it on license plates anytime soon.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.