Snickers has just pulled this ad after complaints were made that it was anti-gay and promoted violence against homosexuals. And while his swishy walk may equal gay to some, I really just don’t get it.
Here’s the deal- I have family members that are gay, have friends who are gay and I live in Chelsea, reknowned as the apex of the gay universe, but perhaps I just don’t know my homos. When exactly did speed walking become a trend with them and not something relegated to old ladies in midwest malls? Did the boys at David Barton not get the memo?
And while the “Get Some Nuts Tag Line,” at the end could categorize this as gay, it just doesn’t seem all that bad. And c’mon, Mr. T wears the shortest jean shorts I’ve ever seen (aside from Richard Simmons). I don’t think he’s one to gay bash.
But that doesn’t mean I don’t agree with this ad being pulled. After all, violence against power walkers and low impact exercise has always been a problem. There has been progress of late with the new laws that allow them to get married and more leniency for those who want to adopt children. Their parade, the fastest one held year round, gets a lot of positive attention. Clearly, this ad is a major step back.
On a serious note though, this entire ad campaign is god awful and reinforces archaic gender stereotypes. Check out this one and let me know if it makes you want a chocolate bar or if it makes you think it’s 1950. As a woman, I want to never eat Snickers again.
Best satirization of these commercials after the clip.
Tags: Ads, Gays, Mr. T, Mr. T Snickers Ads, Snickers, Hate Mongering
