Heinz pulls mayo ad after complaints

[Gio Takahashi]

Heinz pulls mayo ad after complaints (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4205422.ece)



A mayonnaise ad that shows two men kissing has been withdrawn from television after 200 viewers complained that it was offensive.

Heinz, which makes the New York Deli Mayo featured in the commercial, pulled the advertisement less than a week into its expected five week run, in response to the criticism.

Viewers told the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the ad was inappropriate and unsuitable for children to see. The ASA has not yet decided whether to launch an investigation.

Heinz apologised for any offence caused.

"It is our policy to listen to consumers. We recognise that some consumers raised concerns over the content of the ad and this prompted our decision to withdraw it," said Nigel Dickie, director of corporate affairs for Heinz UK.

"The advertisement, part of a short-run campaign, was intended to be humorous and we apologise to anyone who felt offended."

The ad is set in a family kitchen, where, instead of an apron-clad mum, a brawny New York short-order chef is preparing the kids' packed lunches.

Viewers see the children address him as "Mum" as he hands over their sandwiches, but when their father starts to leave for work, the chef calls him back and gruffly demands: "Ain't ya forgettin' something?" The father smiles, and plants a kiss on the side of his mouth.

"Love ya! Straight home from work, sweet cheeks," the chef calls after him.

AMV BBDO, the advertising agency which made the ad, said that the idea was that the product "tastes as if you have your own New York deli man in your kitchen".

It is the first TV commercial that the agency has produced for Heinz since winning the food manufacturer's ?10m-a-year advertising contract earlier this year.

Heinz said that it decided to withdraw the TV commercial last week, and that it was no longer on air as of Friday.

It is understood that the commercial was not shown during children's television programming, because of new rules from Ofcom that restrict ads for products high in fat, salt and sugar.

[Bloodcinder]

It's pretty ridiculous. If you watch the ad (http://youtube.com/watch?v=nLNPdZPSII0), it has nothing to do with gay people, the pretense under which people opposed it. It has to do with the deli guy standing in for the mother. That's why the kids call him "mum." Complaining about this is just a sign of immaturity and inability to comprehend a simple narrative technique.

I for one thought it was refreshing to see a male/male kiss in a commercial for a change. Do you know how tiring it is to see exclusively male/female sexuality to market products?

[Z]

Do you know how tiring it is to see exclusively male/female sexuality to market products?

I've gotta admit, I don't, hehe :D

[DoomKitty]

The people who complained about this are ridiculous. OH NOES.

[Bloodcinder]

I've gotta admit, I don't, hehe
Hehe, I know. To put it in perspective, imagine being black in a world where most advertizing in print and media is populated exclusively by whites and those really light skinned people of indeterminate race. It can be depressing never to see representations of one's own existence.

And it is angering when the few instances when one's existence is acknowledged are attacked by those used to seeing themselves everywhere they go.

But I think you knew all of that. [Wink.]

[Seegtease]

The commercial is funny because he's very masculine and taking the place of a woman. Though I think the kiss part did stand out and seem to last unusually long.

[Bloodcinder]

That kiss was less than a second. Does that really seem that long? Or does it just seem long because it was two men?

[deathofcheese]

I thought it was alright, but the kiss probably could've been a short peck on the cheek. Even though I get that the guy was supposed to take the place of the mother, it just seems too incongruous to have a full kiss.

[Frozen]

I love how every one is so uptight about too men kissing but forgot that john hancocks last name has cock in it.

[Killer_Man_]

Frozen. You make me face palm in shame on some of your posts.

No one cares who has a cock where. It's a matter of supposely 'pushing the way' or 'approving of homosexuals'. That is why those people complained cause they push the Bible into other people and say HEY U R WRONG MOTHER FUCKER! U MUST NOT TAKE COCK UP DA ASS ANYMORE OR ELSE UR GOING TO HELL!

Sad to say, I didn't even care about the kiss or anything. I knew what the deli man was suppose to be, a mother. People need to just let God sort what is right and wrong in the end and worry about themselves.

[Bloodcinder]

No one cares who has a cock where.
Monica Lewinski does.

OH. I'M BRINGING THAT JOKE BACK IN STYLE.

[deathofcheese]

I love how every one is so uptight about too men kissing but forgot that john hancocks last name has cock in it.


...so? Some peoples' first name is Dick. Like Nixon. Ol' Tricky Dick.

[Bloodcinder]

I met a guy named Richard Head. Yeah, really. Actually, no, I'm lying, but that would be a cool anecdote to tell in honesty.

[Gio Takahashi]

Don't forget pussy cat. It's really sad how people get so uptight over names synonymous to people's private parts.

[Killer_Man_]

To be honest, pussy was generation made. Thus being, older people who use pussy, refer to cat. Us youngins use it to refer to women parts.

It's all generational slang.

[Gio Takahashi]

So's dick and nuts.

[Bloodcinder]

STAY ON TOPIC.

[Seegtease]

Thread moved to The Pit.

[Charlie]

I'm glad it got pulled. Fuck anyone who neg-reps me or disagrees with me, too. I have my values. I will stick by them. End of story.

[Bloodcinder]

I don't see how your values can be applied. Did you watch it? In the commercial, the deli guy is a visual substitute for the mother. How does the ensuing kiss defy your values? I'm not attacking you, but I'd like to know.

[The Moody Ronin]

Boy I wish I could remember where I first saw that joke... I think it was actually funny then. 'Course it got pulled too. All seems kinda silly to me. If it actually was supposed to be a homosexual kiss then I'd at least see what could be argued (though I am not and will not actually go into that arguement), but this is a joke. Getting worked up over this would be like getting worked up over Tyler Perry dressing up as Madea in another movie.

[Z]

Devil's Advocate (Not personal view):

The commercial could also be encouraging Homosexual Parenting on top of Homosexuality in general. That said, Charlie and people like him could easily have strong opposing stances to such political statements due to their own idea of what makes a family and their own positions on homosexuality.

If I'm wrong, I'll go rewatch the commercial but the impression I got was that the chef was the wife, (rather than the mother of the business man) as well as playing the role of the "House Mom" to the kids.

People protest gay marriage so it's only natural to assume you'll meet protest when faced with a televised homosexual partnership with children involved.

Me, personally? I don't really care that much. The future brings with it a lot of change and you have to be willing to accept that change (Not to mention homosexuality isn't anything new).

I was kinda messing with Bloodcinder earlier about it but he's right when he said...
To put it in perspective, imagine being black in a world where most advertizing in print and media is populated exclusively by whites and those really light skinned people of indeterminate race. It can be depressing never to see representations of one's own existence.

And it is angering when the few instances when one's existence is acknowledged are attacked by those used to seeing themselves everywhere they go.
I mean, you can always say "This type of display is an insult to my values" but that type of protest is an insult to other people's existence which, in my book, is far more cruel and insulting than having to see a less-than-a-whole-second pecking kiss between a man and a man.

But, of course, if it were women, everyone would be fine because hypocrisy is okay as long as it's sexy. (Case in point: every copy of Cruel Intentions, Wild Things and Girls Gone Wild sold to the general public)

[Seegtease]

I believe them in that a gay message was not their intent. It's funny because the guy behaves as ungayly as possible while still filling the role as a mom. You know, doing the things a mom would do, but just putting a guys face and gruff attitude there.

[Bloodcinder]

If I'm wrong, I'll go rewatch the commercial but the impression I got was that the chef was the wife, (rather than the mother of the business man) as well as playing the role of the "House Mom" to the kids.
Yes, the deli chef stands in for the wife of the man and the mother of the children. The children even call him "mum," implying that the character is really their female mother.

And, yeah, nobody would have cared if they were women, and I personally will doubt anybody who denies that.

It's funny because the guy behaves as ungayly as possible...
UGH

[Seegtease]

Yes I know the spell checker denies ungayly as a word.

[Bloodcinder]

Yes I know the spell checker denies ungayly as a word.
No, that's not why I UGHed. I UGHed because that was about as sensible as saying, "The characters on The Cosby Show act as unblackly as possible."

[Seegtease]

If you're telling me you can't pick out a gay person the majority of the time based on behavior/appearance/speaking, you're nuts. Everything has exceptions but c'mon now. Your comparison is absurd. Skin color has nothing to do with behavior. Differences in lifestyles do.

[Bloodcinder]

You're equating stereotypical gay mannerisms with same-sex orientation. That's exactly like equating stereotypical black mannerisms with black skin color. If you feel justified in stereotyping one, you must feel justified in stereotyping the other.

[Seegtease]

But skin color has no effect on personality. Your preferences do. Homos and heteros live different lifestyles, and there are points of it reflecting their personalities. Skin color isn't a life choice, it's a physical characteristic. They are two different worlds.

And if homosexuals generally have no distinctive characteristics as far as personalities goes, why am I able to often times identify one?

[Bloodcinder]

But skin color has no effect on personality. Your preferences do. Homos and heteros live different lifestyles, and there are points of it reflecting their personalities. Skin color isn't a life choice, it's a physical characteristic. They are two different worlds.
Sexual orientation isn't a life choice, but I will let that go since I know you would argue it to death. "Lifestyle" is not a generalization it is safe to make. Nobody knows I'm gay until I tell them. That's because I act "ungayly." Being gay doesn't predispose you to act a certain way unless you're having sex with a person of the same-sex. And I don't think you see much of that.

And if homosexuals generally have no distinctive characteristics as far as personalities goes, why am I able to often times identify one?
You do not have as much experience at identifying gay people as I do. Trust me. You're operating under the perception that the stereotypes you have come to believe are true. I'm sorry, but Bravo TV is not nearly the statistically normal representation of gay people.

So, no, it's not at all valid to say that the deli chef is acting "ungayly."

[Seegtease]

I'm not talking about television, but real life situations. I'm not living in a hole in the ground. I've lived in Portland. I have successfully identified enough to have at least a slight notion that there is some behavioral trends in many cases due to their sexual preferences.

My main point was, anyway, that the commercial wouldn't have been funny if the chef was stereotypically gay.

[Bloodcinder]

I'm not talking about television, but real life situations. I'm not living in a hole in the ground. I've lived in Portland. I have successfully identified enough to have at least a slight notion that there is some behavioral trends in many cases due to their sexual preferences.
So, you've identified them by their mannerisms and then found out that they are gay. Have you bothered finding out if anybody is gay if they didn't fit your stereotype? In other words, I think you are suffering from confirmation bias.

My main point was, anyway, that the commercial wouldn't have been funny if the chef was stereotypically gay.
And that wording would have been much less rude and would have been acceptable, and I wouldn't have had a problem with it.

[Seegtease]

Sorry.

Edit: I do mean it.

[Bloodcinder]

I apologize for getting a little more offended than I needed to. It's all good.

[llama_egg]

Well, to lighten things up, why oh why did that commercial have to be taken off the air, it's down right amazing!

[Killer_Man_]

There is nothing wrong with the commerical.

How come it's wrong for that, but not wrong for say, David Bowie to dress like a 'flamer?'

You know, Ziggy Stardust and all.

At least my parents call him a flamer.

[Bloodcinder]

How come it's wrong for that, but not wrong for say, David Bowie to dress like a 'flamer?'
Because nobody's opposite-sex sexuality is being theoretically challenged by David Bowie putting on an act. People don't care about the mannerisms of others if it's entertaining. Once it hints of sexuality, though, it becomes frightening.

Example: Everybody loved Paul Lynde (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Lynde). He was an old-school queen. He did it for laughs, and it worked. Militant straight people got pretty pissed off at Heath Ledger (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heath_Ledger), though, for daring to show male/male affection in a movie.

[deathofcheese]

I'm not meaning to rub salt in either wound, just posting an interesting tidbit, but of the two gay people I lived with in the past year, and another one I had no choice but to see pretty much every day, only one was obviously gay (even though he never came out about it). One of the guys I lived with could only be considered gay by his impeccable dress sense (the definitely gay type of dress sense). The last one was more or less just a normal guy. You wouldn't even know he was gay unless you were talking about it and he blatantly said something about liking other guys only. (Again, not trying to offend, but just trying to add something.)

While you may have "perfected" gay-dar, just because someone acts gay, doesn't mean they are. Also, just because they don't act gay, doesn't mean they aren't.

Am I making sense? Or am I starting to venture towards needlessly-asshole territory?

[Bloodcinder]

While you may have "perfected" gay-dar, just because someone acts gay, doesn't mean they are. Also, just because they don't act gay, doesn't mean they aren't.
That is a perfectly correct assessment, and one of which only a minority of straight people are aware. But I don't know if you were addressing your post at me or at Zeit.

[deathofcheese]

Zeit, mostly, for sparking that conversation, but it was a general statement for the conversation in general.

[Seegtease]

However, I will say that it's much much more likely for somebody to be gay and not be detected than for somebody to act stereotypically gay and not actually be gay. If that makes sense. I mean I'm sure there's a lot that are gay that I'd never even think it. But those who act stereotypically gay are almost always gay, I'm sure that much can be agreed upon?

[Bloodcinder]

However, I will say that it's much much more likely for somebody to be gay and not be detected than for somebody to act stereotypically gay and not actually be gay. If that makes sense. I mean I'm sure there's a lot that are gay that I'd never even think it. But those who act stereotypically gay are almost always gay, I'm sure that much can be agreed upon?
For the most part. It just so happens that the people who are gay and aren't stereotypical far outnumber those who are gay and stereotypical. Most people simply don't realize this because they only get what they think is confirmation of orientation in the case of those who are stereotypical.

[Seegtease]

You're right. I never really disagreed with that. All I ever meant to say to begin with is that if your "gay-dar" actually detects somebody, it's probably true. I never said (intentionally) that many would go by undetected. Just that the detections would usually be accurate.

[Bloodcinder]

You're right.
Oh my gosh. I am?

Alternately...

Yes. I know that.

Alternately...

[Face of feigned triumph.]

[Seegtease]

But I never said I was wrong. I never really disagreed. Is it a victory to be told you're right when the person also believes in their own correctness?

[Bloodcinder]

But I never said I was wrong. I never really disagreed. Is it a victory to be told you're right when the person also believes in their own correctness?
I WIN THE INTERNET

[Seegtease]

:( conceded

[Gio Takahashi]

http://www.unitedempire.net/images/boom.jpg

Carry on.