No apologies for returning to a gay theme, since this is just as extraordinary as the Iris Robinson outburst. An ad for mayonnaise has been withdrawn because it shows two men kissing. Shock horror outrage!!The food company Heinz made an ad in which a man is leaving the house with a sandwich, saying goodbye not to the usual devoted wife but to a second man in a chef's hat and apron.
The two men kiss and the "chef" says "Love you. Come straight home from work, sweet cheeks."
After this sinful scene brought over 200 complaints, in what some say was an organised campaign, Heinz pulled the ad saying it had "failed in its intent to amuse" and apologising if they had offended anyone.
I'm glad to know the gay rights group Stonewall has responded to this cowardly ban by urging the public to stop buying Heinz products.
The group said "We're shocked that an innocuous ad should have been withdrawn in this way." They have had a flood of phone calls from deeply upset supporters.
It's ridiculous that in 2008 a company should wilt in panic and give way to a few hysterical loudmouths who still think same-sex kissing is scandalous and outrageous.
I wouldn't mind betting that these homophobic hotheads stay completely silent about anything genuinely offensive like mass rape by soldiers or the escalating reign of terror in Zimbabwe.
PS: It struck me that the basic message here - gay kisses bad, mayonnaise good - is upside down. The sane equation surely is gay kisses (happiness-promoting) good, mayonnaise (up to 85% fat) bad.
Agreed, agreed, agreed! How stupid are these people who complained. I know where I'd shove that Heinz bottle.
ReplyDeleteThat's unbelievably cowardly. What's offensive about two men kissing? Perhaps the hotheads are worried about catching homosexuality from eating mayonnaise. Ridiculous and outrageous.
ReplyDeleteSeriously...where was the ad to be shown, UK/Ireland?
ReplyDeleteI find this hard to believe.
Some people.
I'd love to meet the people who complained.
ReplyDeleteI bet they wouldn't like to meet me though...
OK, I just saw the ad over at youtube. And I understand even less why anyone complained.
ReplyDeleteget a grip people.
Sad! - Where does it end?
ReplyDeleteDon't they have the tv program 'Will and Grace' over there?
I suppose that should be banned too!
Oh and while we're at it news reports with gay subject matter!
Oh and blog posts too!
How is this in any way about being gay? I watched it on You Tube as well and they've even censored the kiss! And since when does 200 complaints in a country of 60 million people (all of whom I bet has a Heinz product in their pantry)cause concern. I hate being dictated to by moral minorities. Heinz should give them each a 5kilo can of beans and tell them to blow it out their arse! *potty mouth strikes again*
ReplyDeleteDarren - Oh, now you'll have us all merrily fantasising about Heinz bottles!
ReplyDeleteHulla - My God, can you catch homosexuality from mayonnaise? I had no idea. Right, out with all those infectious bottles....
Xbox - I gather it was being shown in the UK and USA. Not sure about Ireland. It's probably all those religious nuts as usual.
Travelling - I bet they wouldn't want to show their faces, they don't have the nerve to do anything but complain anonymously.
Quicky - Oh yes, we have Will and Grace but I doubt if this crowd have ever been open-minded enough to watch it. And you're right, gay blog posts, how blatantly offensive!
Baino - Exactly, how come 200 out of 65 million are considered significant enough to pull the ad? A crazy over-reaction.
It does have the air of a publicity stunt about it.
ReplyDeleteConor - Publicity stunt by the protesters or by Heinz? It's certainly odd that so many complaints were received about something that's now so mundane.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't they all just grow up and care about the real issues of the day instead of the naughty bits?
ReplyDeleteI firmly believe that these "outcriers" are all closeted anyway.
As for Heinz, they sure are getting a lot of publicity and I never ever underestimate the power of the fundies...
XO
WWW
www - You're right, they're getting loads of free publicity and reaching people the ads probably would never have reached. And many people will buy their products despite all the controversy. Personally I can't stand mayonnaise at any price.
ReplyDeleteI love mayonnaise. Heinz is second-rate rubbish though.
ReplyDeleteI think Conortje's right, I smell a publicity stunt here.
Caro - What do you mean you love mayonnaise? Where are my friends when I need them? Okay, so which is the number one mayonnaise IYHO?
ReplyDeleteI vote for Hellman's, Nick.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Okay, any advance on Hellman's? Or has www got impeccable taste? I just noticed that mayonnaise can be up to 85% fat. So do we really need this heart-busting concoction anyway?
ReplyDeleteJust shows once again how the world as a whole is just not used to change, in any way. What was a taboo is still a taboo when it comes to general populations. That's just sad in an era when everything is about change and progress (with an unhealthy mix of destruction but that's another issue). The closed-mindness and the incredible ignorance of homophobic people and their collective power to intimidate anyone and anything against them just boils my blood and makes me so mad.
ReplyDeleteOn Heinz ~ I personally stay away from Heinz products. So there isn't a bit of Heinz in all of us. Everything they manufacture has genetically modified something and chemicals or preservatives in them, even in their canned foods. Canning process is great as it doesn't require preservatives added. Oh well. Again, another issue.
And I agree with Conor re. possible publicity stunt. I am sure they expected some reaction to it when they were making it, noone can be that stupid. Imagine if the "gay" content was nothing special to anyone, caused no controversy and it was just a usual sight in the media, what would be so special about that ad? Nothing...
G
One more thing? Appalled and angry is one thing, but why would anyone actually be shocked and surprised that
ReplyDeletea) the ad got reaction and complaints,
b) Heinz stepped back as a consequence?
Reality check... it's a sad world.
I wonder how many complaints they would have gotten if it were two women. Why is lesbianism seen by many (not all, but many) as erotic but two men draws feelings of disgust? When I read this, it made me laugh because my grandpa used to wear a "kiss the cook" t-shirt and my uncle would do just that.
ReplyDeleteGayé - Unfortunately change and progress are obstructed when people are blinded by religious and cultural dogma. You're right, without the ad's gay frisson, what would be special? Although some ads work precisely because of the "normal" image of a devoted mum pleasing her cheeky kids.
ReplyDeleteNicole - Exactly, two women kissing would be totally unremarkable so what's the difference? And I love the memory of your kissing grandpa and uncle! Did you think that was odd? Of course not.
agreed and doubly agreed! stupid people, stupid stupid people. 'Cos like, the wars, famine, abuse, rape, murders, crime and violence simply pale into insignificance against the horror of two grown adults showing love for each other. Now we know.
ReplyDeleteBB - Yes, two men loving each other, how could they? The next thing you know, they'll be spilling all their personal emotions and secrets to each other, just like girlies do. What an awful thought!
ReplyDeleteI am totally disgusted by the withdrawal of this ad. Have these people seen some the advertising out there? I am constantly offended by the stream of sexist adverts on TV, not to mention how sexualised ads are in general.
ReplyDeleteA kiss? A happy couple talking nicely to each other in the morning with one of them doing a nice thing for the other? Sometimes I think the world is just backwards.
FG - Exactly, why's a gay kiss a problem when all those sexist and status-obsessed ads out there are just fine? Not to mention all those movies with men knifing and shooting each other?
ReplyDeleteI'm seconding Fate here.
ReplyDeleteThere's no end to sexism in advertising and they get away with it unchallenged.
Medbh - It's amazing they get away with it so easily. But if people complain, they're just dismissed as not having a sense of humour or being PC fanatics.
ReplyDeleteI hadn't heard of that commercial but it's funny.
ReplyDeleteAnd I hate mayonnaise, not that it's even slightly relevant. As long as they keep on making mustard, I'll be happy.
People need to speak out on important issues like those you mentioned instead of wasting their ire on meaningless idiocy like ads.
Heart, I'm with you, as long as they keep making mustard, I'm not complaining. And isn't banning that gay ad itself a bit of meaningless idiocy?
ReplyDelete