Gidget, a chihuahua who starred in Taco Bell commercials, died at age 15 today, according to the AP. Apparently, the dog had a massive stroke at her home in Santa Clarita, Calif.

According to the AP story, some people didn’t like the ad campaign:

The ads made the Taco Bell mascot wildly popular, although they provoked some criticism from activists who felt they used Mexican stereotypes.

I don’t know. I’d like to hear from anyone who was truly offended by the ads. They were so obviously goofy and over-the-top, it’s hard to peg them for stereotyping Mexicans.

Is the combination of tacos and chihuahuas offensive somehow? Is it the fake Mexican accent? I don’t understand. I mean the breed did originate in the state of Chihuahua in Mexico (a very fine state with a fine capital, Chihuahua City, which I’ve visited). According to the American Kennel Club:

The Chihuahua’s history is shrouded in mystery, but some believe he originated from the Fennec Fox, a very small animal with big eyes and ears, which could explain the tiny frame, luminous eyes and large ears on the breed today. Chihuahuas were used in religious ceremonies and were pets to the upper class. The breed derives its name from the Mexican State of Chihuahua, where the earliest specimens of the breed were found.

Adiós Gidget …