US surgeon promotes rhinoplasty with song about ‘Jewish’ noses
American Society of Plastic Surgeons calls the clip 'inappropriate,' investigates whether Dr. Michael Salzhauer violated its professional code of ethics
The stereotype of the big-nosed Jew is hardly the worst one out there, but we’re still unimpressed with this nominally “funny” ad.
Posted on YouTube a month ago, the clip is meant to promote Miami plastic surgeon Michael Salzhauer, who is now under investigation for commissioning it.
The music video, entitled “Jewcan Sam,” links Jewish schnozzes with the oversize beak of Toucan Sam, the colorful logo for a breakfast cereal. The song portrays a yarmulke-wearing student who gets rejected by a pretty girl because of his looks, then has better luck after getting a nose job.
“The song is meant to be funny, not offensive,” Salzhauer told ABC News.
The Anti-Defamation League didn’t comment, but the American Society of Plastic Surgeons has called the video “offensive and inappropriate,” and has “initiated an investigation under its Code of Ethics which clearly requires ASPS members to uphold the dignity and honor of the medical profession.”
If found guilty of violating the organization’s code of ethics, Salzhauer could face probation, a loss of benefits or even more extreme penalties.
The doctor created the video in hopes that it would go viral online — something it has failed to do so far, having been watched just under 23,000 times as we post this. Salzhauer hopes viewers will be sufficiently inspired to create their own videos for the song, and says he’ll give a free nose job to the best submission.
The current incarnation of “Jewcan Sam” is performed by the Groggers, a New York-based group that describes itself as a “unique Jewish pop-punk band with a comic twist.” Salzhauer has already given a free rhinoplasty to the group’s lead singer, L.E. Doug Staiman, who told ABC News that most members of the band have “massive, deformed noses.”