Some ultra-PCers are considering a Snickers ad that aired during the Super Bowl homophobic. It’s the one where the two guys accidentially kiss while eating the same Snickers bar and then ripping out chest hair to do something manly. Thoughts?
Cracked me up.
I wish snickers had shown some balls and not pulled the ad. There was nothing homophobic in that ad. Now, had someone seen them kiss, then condem then to a life a hell and beat them to a pulp… then yes, I would say it was homophobic.
I didn’t see the full ad but saw from a couple of seconds prior to the one guy starting in on the other end of the candy bar to a second or two after they split apart. Would I go so far as to categorize it as “homophobic”? No. I would however categorize it as playing on stereotypes, which I’m fine with if the play is even remotely original. The whole “straight men inadvertantly get involved in a homoerotic situation and isn’t that a stitch” has been done to death.
I would also categorize those who dismiss the issue by labeling those questioning the ad as “ultra-PCers” to be guilty of a certain lack of critical thinking.
Here’s the GD link: Fallout from the Snickers ad - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board
It reminded me of a scene from NewsRadio that I thought was funnier.
Now that would have been a good ad!
I thought it was funny. So did my sister and her gilfriend. The humour seemed to poke fun of homophobia rather than homosexuals.
:: shrug :: Don’t see what the fuss is about.
This commercial was on par with the “those aren’t pillows” scene in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
Personally, I thought those two guys chawing on that snickers bar was the funniest damn thing I’ve ever seen during a football game. I had just enough time to register the thought, “they can’t possibly have these two guys kiss, can they?”
What will be even funnier is if they show the guys a day later and one of them is going, “I don’t know why I cain’t quitchoo”.
I agree! I think those who are taking offense aren’t really looking at it with enough… nuance or critical thought.
Play it back in your mind… it’s not homophobic. It’s poking fun at homophobia. Something, in a way, we need more of…
imo
I don’t have sound at work, but here’s the ad.
I classify this under the heading of “ads which make me want to not buy the product,” which is unfortunate, because I love Snickers bars.
The only one that I could see people getting outraged about was one of the variations they were planning to air during the Daytona 500 (and previewed on their web site) – where they proceeded to violently assault each other… :eek:
Wow, that was really stupid.
In light of the description of the other ads, especially “Wrench,” my opinion of the ad has changed. As a series, yes, the ads as described are homophobic.
I see it much differently. They are showing homophobic people and making fun of them. That would be the opposite of homophobic. The two in the ad are shown to be stupid rubes doing idiotic things.
Meh…I don’t think it would have bothered me if I’d seen it before all the hoopla. But here’s a take on it from a friend of mine.
The ad like all the others shown during the game, barely registered with me.
I didn’t think much of the commercial before the decision to pull it and now I am indifferent to it.
My only question is how is ripping out one’s chest hair considered doing something manly? Does subjecting oneself to self-induced pain fall in this category?
While nothing immediately springs to mind as an alternate ending, tearing out a tuft of one’s chest hair doesn’t strike me so much as macho but as just bizarre
Ok, so I just watched it for the first time (from the link provided) and I’ve decided that whatever else it may be, it’s stupid and not very funny.
Yes, it does seem to poke fun at their homophobia, which I suppose would be better than presenting their kiss as actually a bad thing (rather than something they perceive as bad), but I don’t think it was very well executed. In any case, I’m kind of tired of the gag where two straight men accidentally do something they think makes them look gay and then proceed to overcompensate. It’s overdone. Personally, I’d love to see a scene where two straight men are affectionate and don’t give it a second thought, I suppose it’s less funny that way. (I also think it’s sad that straight men so often feel the need to act macho after doing something like that).
I just read the article and I thought this quote summed up the problem with the ad pretty well:
Not to cast aspersions on football fans but I really don’t think most people watching the Super Bowl are going to get that distinction, if that is indeed what Snickers intended.
I’m guessing that if two ugly gay mechanics ran into the same “predicament” that they would also be surprised and disgusted. Last I heard, gay guys don’t lust after every man they see.
I guess the twist is the “do something manly” part…and can someone explain to me how ripping off your chest hair is manly? Woulda been funnier if they punched eachother in the face or something.