# Homophobic Super Bowl ad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 7, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226 "2007-02-07T17:14:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![MaceMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@MaceMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaceMan)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/21 "2007-02-08T08:19:41Z")
Why is kissing another guy not manly? I thought the ad was just dumb. The Snickers people knew exactly what they were doing, though, and that it would be offensive. According to other sites, their commercial website also had very homophobic “reaction clips” of football players filmed watching the ad. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/22 "2007-02-08T10:24:02Z")
I found it mostly dumb. It would have been funny if the two guys had been doing something semi-plausible and then suddenly realized it had gay overtones. But the idea of one guy just innocently deciding to start eating a candy bar out of another guy’s mouth makes it impossible to suspend belief even for the second or two necessary - I thought the joke was supposed to be that the second guy was knowingly flirting with the first guy. ---
**Author:** ![Khadaji](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9e8a1a/32.png) [@Khadaji](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Khadaji)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/23 "2007-02-08T13:05:50Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] I found it mostly dumb. It would have been funny if the two guys had been doing something semi-plausible and then suddenly realized it had gay overtones. But the idea of one guy just innocently deciding to start eating a candy bar out of another guy’s mouth makes it impossible to suspend belief even for the second or two necessary - I thought the joke was supposed to be that the second guy was knowingly flirting with the first guy. [/QUOTE] Agreed. I would never see food hanging from someone’s mouth and start eating it, only to be surprised that we kissed. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/24 "2007-02-08T13:33:20Z")
I thought it made the two guys look like idiots. ---
**Author:** ![audiobottle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bc8723/32.png) [@audiobottle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/audiobottle)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/25 "2007-02-08T13:43:25Z")
[QUOTE=Little Nemo] I found it mostly dumb. It would have been funny if the two guys had been doing something semi-plausible and then suddenly realized it had gay overtones. But the idea of one guy just innocently deciding to start eating a candy bar out of another guy’s mouth makes it impossible to suspend belief even for the second or two necessary - I thought the joke was supposed to be that the second guy was knowingly flirting with the first guy. [/QUOTE] Well, that’s the point, from the company’s point of view. A Snickers is so good that you’ll forget everything to have some. ---
**Author:** ![chela](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chela/32/21582_2.png) [@chela](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chela)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/26 "2007-02-08T13:43:53Z")
I was with some friends (I use the term loosely) watching the game. I dont what their kick was that night but everything was “gay” the opening ceremonies, gay, Peyton Manning, gay, half time, very gay, and the commercials were all gay, except that snickers commercial.not gay ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/27 "2007-02-08T17:30:34Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] 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. [/QUOTE] I see. So, a commercial in which homophobes are the butt of the joke is homophobic because you say so (Why? Not getting enough attention lately? Or is it just your vaunted “critical thinking” that the rest of us lack?) and now football fans are all mouthbreathing troglodytes who lack the sophistication to do anything other than snort, paw the ground and grunt “fags bad” whenever they see a commercial where 2 men kiss? Not to cast aspersions on homosexuals, but based upon your reaction, I think most of them need to grow a pair and get a sense of humor if they indeed find this commercial offensive. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/28 "2007-02-08T17:54:58Z")
[QUOTE=rjung] The only one that I could see people getting outraged about was one of the [variations](http://americablog.blogspot.com/2007/02/snickers-superbowl-web-site-promotes.html) they were planning to air during the Daytona 500 (and previewed on their web site) – where they proceeded to violently assault each other… :eek: [/QUOTE] It would have been hilarious if it ended with the mechanic whacking the other guy over the head with a wrench. It was _his_ Snickers bar, after all. The chest-hair-pulling was really, really stupid. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/29 "2007-02-08T18:05:47Z")
[QUOTE=Weirddave] I see. So, a commercial in which homophobes are the butt of the joke is homophobic because you say so (Why? Not getting enough attention lately? Or is it just your vaunted “critical thinking” that the rest of us lack?) and now football fans are all mouthbreathing troglodytes who lack the sophistication to do anything other than snort, paw the ground and grunt “fags bad” whenever they see a commercial where 2 men kiss? Not to cast aspersions on homosexuals, but based upon your reaction, I think most of them need to grow a pair and get a sense of humor if they indeed find this commercial offensive. [/QUOTE] I can’t say as I understand why you felt the need to come after me with this level of vitriol, but that’s between you and your therapist. Also sorry if it offends you that I think that the average football fan watching the commercial is not going to make the rather subtle distinction that **Loach** was drawing. I don’t think the _average person in general_ is going to draw that subtle distinction. If you look at the link posted by **rjung** which describes the disgusted reaction that various football players had when viewing the ad, it seems pretty clear that they didn’t draw the distinction and, yeah, pretty much did the facial equivalent of pawing the ground and grunting “fags bad.” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/30 "2007-02-08T18:40:15Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] I can’t say as I understand why you felt the need to come after me with this level of vitriol, but that’s between you and your therapist. Also sorry if it offends you that I think that the average football fan watching the commercial is not going to make the rather subtle distinction that **Loach** was drawing. I don’t think the _average person in general_ is going to draw that subtle distinction. If you look at the link posted by **rjung** which describes the disgusted reaction that various football players had when viewing the ad, it seems pretty clear that they didn’t draw the distinction and, yeah, pretty much did the facial equivalent of pawing the ground and grunting “fags bad.” [/QUOTE] FTR I don’t think the distiction I made was subtle. Seems very obvious to me. Also your aspersion casting on football fans doesn’t fit either. This is the Superbowl. One of if not the most highly rated events on TV for the year. It is viewed by many more people than just football fans. My wife watches it and she hates football. It is an event. It is watched by many for people than the stereotypical football audience in your mind. Thirdly I can’t believe I have found myself in a postion to defend a commercial I found stupid and unfunny. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/31 "2007-02-08T18:50:10Z")
**Weirddave** : Personal insults are not permitted in this forum, as you well know. Cool it. NOW. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/32 "2007-02-08T18:50:33Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] 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. [/QUOTE] Yes, the “Wrench” one was definitely ill-conceived and stupidly homophobic. ---
**Author:** ![Geobabe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/geobabe/32/3908_2.png) [@Geobabe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geobabe)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/33 "2007-02-08T19:21:38Z")
I thought the “Lady and the Tramp” reference was cute, but the reaction was stupid. I don’t think it’s all that clear that they’re making fun of homophobes, particularly given the alternate endings and the reaction shots. I don’t know that it rises to the level of offense that calls for a boycott, but I do think it was stupid and in poor taste. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/34 "2007-02-08T19:28:43Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] FTR I don’t think the distiction I made was subtle. Seems very obvious to me. [/quote] Well, sure, because you made it. > [@Loach](#): > > Also your aspersion casting on football fans doesn’t fit either. I have already amended my statement to more clearly apply to the average person. Technically I didn’t initally restrict my comment to football fans since I did say “the average person watching the Super Bowl” (although in responding to Dave’s comments I did say “average football fan” which may have muddied things) but just to eliminate any possible ambiguity or misunderstanding let me state again that I do not believe that the average _person_ watching the ad, regardless of how they feel about football, would make the distinction you did. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/35 "2007-02-08T19:46:01Z")
Who the fuck starts eating a Snickers bar you’re eating from the other end? I’d kick that guy’s ass because he needs to fish out a buck and get his own goddamn Snickers bar. The violation of personal property and personal space is sick. I’m straight as an arrow and I’d feel very, very uncomfortable if I started chewing on a candy bar at work and a female coworker picked up at the other end. (Except for the one I’d like to kiss, of course…) > [@Weirddave](#): > > I see. So, a commercial in which homophobes are the butt of the joke is homophobic because you say so (Why? Not getting enough attention lately? Or is it just your vaunted “critical thinking” that the rest of us lack?) and now football fans are all mouthbreathing troglodytes who lack the sophistication to do anything other than snort, paw the ground and grunt “fags bad” whenever they see a commercial where 2 men kiss? Not to cast aspersions on homosexuals, but based upon your reaction, I think most of them need to grow a pair and get a sense of humor if they indeed find this commercial offensive. How is it not offensive? One man violates the other’s personal space and privacy (a common theme in homophobic paranoia - you know that retired NBA player who just came out? LeBron James responded to that news by saying that a gay man can’t be trusted in the locker room, presumably because he’s going to violate his teammates in various ways), then they do something gay-looking and freak the fuck out, so disgusted by the event that they inflict pain on themselves to wash away the horror and prove their straightness. When I read a description of the ad, I thought, “They’re making fun of homophobes, this is cool!” Then I watched it and it turned out to be lowest-common-denominator “OMG we look gay, let’s commit acts of violence to prove we’re Real Men” bullshit. And the Snickers website shows clips of NFL players, including Muhsin Muhammed, who I don’t have to tell you is a pretty high-profile dude, reacting in utter disgust to the pseudo-kiss. ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/36 "2007-02-08T20:15:00Z")
[QUOTE=fetus] LeBron James responded to that news by saying that a gay man can’t be trusted in the locker room, presumably because he’s going to violate his teammates in various ways. [/QUOTE] Violate them how? Chase them into the stands and strangle them? Oh wait, it was LeBron James who did that to his coach, wasn’t it? ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/37 "2007-02-08T20:20:37Z")
[QUOTE=Otto] Violate them how? Chase them into the stands and strangle them? Oh wait, it was LeBron James who did that to his coach, wasn’t it? [/QUOTE] Latrell Sprewell ---
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/38 "2007-02-08T20:48:38Z")
[QUOTE=Loach] Latrell Sprewell [/QUOTE] Huh. I thought I remembered LeBron James doing it. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/39 "2007-02-08T20:53:02Z")
[QUOTE=Liberal] I thought it made the two guys look like idiots. [/QUOTE] Uh, yeah. Same here. But then, they do that all the time in advertising. Unfortunately. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2007, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226/40 "2007-02-08T20:55:00Z")
Yep. The big discussion here seems to be whether the ad is saying “People who eat Snickers bars are morons”, “People who eat Snickers bars are homophobic,” or “People will do anything for a Snickers bars, whether it’s gay or self-mutilating.” :dubious: Or, hey, maybe all of the above? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/homophobic-super-bowl-ad/391226.md?page=3)