Heinz pulls mayo ad after complaints
I don't know what annoys me more; that 200 people complained that the advert was "offensive" and "inappropriate", or that Heinz caved to the pressure and pulled it. Heinz seem to be denying this is the reason, of course, instead claiming that the ad "failed in its message". Only the very naive would imagine that Heinz wouldn't have foreseen the media coverage the ad would create -- although perhaps the email warning campaign by American Family Association is going a little far. Here at least is one group very much failing to get the message of the ad.
It makes me angry that seeing two men kissing should be such a horrific thing and so unsuitable for children (isn't it always about "protecting the children"?), although I'm vaguely amused that people were upset at having to explain to children about the gays.
Interestingly enough, the ad was never shown during or around children's programming because the mayo product being advertised was too unhealthy.
I'm interested, though, does anyone around here agree that the ad was unsuitable for children because two men kissing is different to a man kissing a woman?
I read another post about this that said the main issue wasn't two men kissing, but that they were depicted as having children. I wish I could remember where I saw that.
ReplyDeleteEither way, I don't think the ad should have been pulled, although the "See you tonight sweet-cheeks" was a bit much (even if it were a being said to someone of the opposite gender).
I don't think it is inappropriate in any case, but I know kids aren't as strictly supervised and therefore it's quite possible that children would be exposed to it.
ReplyDeleteHowever, if you care that much about what your kids are watching, then this would be a moot point, wouldn't it?
200 people doesn't seem like a great deal of people... 200 less people eating Heinz?
I'll always like Heinz since I once crashed their holiday party at the Western William Penn and drank their booze.
I don't think it should have been pulled and I fail to see how seeing two men kiss should be deemed any more inappropriate for children than a hetero couple kissing. I believe it stems from a fear that if you expose children to people 'acting gay', then they might become gay themselves, which is a load of rubbish not to mention implies that society still persists in viewing homosexuality as an aberration and a bad thing, instead of natural and normal.
ReplyDeleteHuman sexuality has always ALWAYS run the full gamut - from hetero to homo and everything in between. Hetereosexuality has only been deemed 'the status quo' in Western culture since the advent of Christianity - previous to that, homosexuality was openly practised and even encouraged in ancient Roman and Greek cultures. I'm not saying homosexuality is the normal state of affairs either - normality is somewhere in between.
We, as a society, need to think very hard about what we call 'normal' and why we think that... often, it's just because it's a cultural hangover from repressively patriarchal times, rather than us actually coming to our own conclusion and values.
Wow. I'm amazingly offended - but like you, it's not because of the advertisement. I can agree with Diane that the "sweet-cheeks" was a bit much regardless of genders, sure. But the kissing and having kids part? How is that bad?
ReplyDeleteWomen kiss on TV all of the time - mostly to egg on a male audience, but it happens. And consider the superbowl ad that not only made two men kissing seem so terrible they had to DO SOMETHING MANLY right after, but it ALSO got banned. You can watch it here.
I don't know. So many popular shows have lesbian characters who kiss and cuddle and have sex lives. I don't understand why two men kissing in a mayo ad has to get shot down so quickly.
As you know, I think the whole thing is entirely ridiculous. Both because 200 people complained, but because it got pulled. I don't agree with Diane and Raine that the "sweet-cheeks" is too much- in the context, it's just a couple talking like couples do... what couple doesn't call each other cute names?
ReplyDeleteSo yeah- no, two men kissing is no different to a man and a woman, and the longer we treat it as such, the more the problem (and to me, it is a problem) will be perpetuated.
it wasn't even a gay couple, only a funny and cute ad. but it seems that heinz now supports homophobia. let them hear us! write an email to pressoffice@uk.hjheinz.com with copy to butlerc@amvbbdo.com, Ted.Smyth@us.hjheinz.com, Nigel.Dickie@uk.hjheinz.com and Consumer.Contact@uk.hjheinz.com
ReplyDeletesubject: Censoring of Heinz Deli Mayo TV ad
dear mr. or mrs. i’m really disappointed, why did you remove the Heinz Deli Mayo TV ad made by BBDO only because a bunch of sick homophobes pressured you to do that? you are endorsing a homophobe agenda and i won’t buy any of your products again until you repair the damage you have done. you have lost one customer, and i’m pretty sure i won’t be the only one. have a nice day xxxxxx
and sign the petition too: http://www.petitiononline.com/heinz/petition.html
we are a lot more than 200 sick homophobes, and they have lost us as customers!
Oh yes, what a horrible thing for children to see a couple in a loving relationship raising children together. What is this world coming to.
ReplyDeletePeople who choose tv as a babysitter have no right to complain what the tv is teaching their kids.
Pulling it is clearly ridiculous, but I can't say I'm surprised. Last I looked, the petition against pulling it was up to almost 9,000 signatures.
ReplyDeleteDiane: That's even worse! Two men having children!! As for sweet cheeks, I just thought that was laying it on a bit thick -- yes, we get the joke already...
ReplyDeleteAurore: 200 certainly doesn't seem like a lot of people, considering how many people must have seen the ad. How many people do you suppose just complain about anything, regardless?
Dune: You're right, society really does need to stop seeing sexuality as being heterosexuality as the norm and everything else being an aberration.
Dateless Raine: You're right, women do kiss on TV all the time -- which brings us to the double standards that it's somehow ok when it's women but not when it's two men...
Amanda: As above, I think the "sweet cheeks" line was just unnecessary. However, I am starting to wonder if the ad was pulled in response to the complaints not because they didn't want to upset people, but because clearly the intended message wasn't getting across?
Ito: You're right, it wasn't even a gay couple (though they did make a good couple, I thought) which makes the whole thing even more ridiculous. But as above I sort of see perhaps why if the ad was being completely misread they might have opted to scrap it. As for the petition, I don't think reinstating the ad is necessary or even relevant any more -- it wasn't even that good, and to my mind if they truly did pull it because of pressure from the Homophobic lobby then reinstating it would be too little, too late. I would much rather see Heinz do something constructive if they feel at all bad about it. Similarly, I think if writing a letter to the company to express one's disappointment is the way forward, it would be a lot more effective if it was a serious letter.
Jamie: What is it coming to indeed! There should be less television ads showing people kissing briefly, and more coverage of war and terror.
Sarah: Long time no see! The petition is on nearly 12,000 signatures now -- and yeah, it's not really surprising the ad was pulled, but I'm wondering if they ran the ad originally only to stir things up a bit?