Anti-gay ad?
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UPDATE (30 July 08 - 4.30pm): Mars has announced the advert has been withdrawn from British television. Until now it has only been shown on UK TV and not broadcast in the US except for at the Superbowl. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority only received two complaints about it, but the ad was pulled anyway because of controversy in the US. One of our Observers in Washington, blogger John Aravosis has alerted us to a seemingly homophobic advert from chocolate bar brand Snickers. This is the second time in 18 months that Snickers, who was forced to withdraw a gay-offensive ad last February, has faced criticism for homophobic advertising. Read more and see the ad...
UPDATE (30 July 08 - 4.30pm): Mars has announced the advert has been withdrawn from British television. Until now it has only been shown on UK TV and not broadcast in the US except for at the Superbowl. The UK's Advertising Standards Authority only received two complaints about it, but the ad was pulled anyway because of controversy in the US.
One of our Observers in Washington, blogger John Avarosis has alerted us to a seemingly homophobic advert from chocolate bar brand Snickers. This is the second time in 18 months that Snickers, who was forced to withdraw a gay-offensive ad last February, has faced criticism for homophobic advertising.
Released 10 July08.
Snickers was originally in trouble for an advert that saw two mechanics accidentally kissing and being so revolted that they resorted to violent acts including drinking motor oil and attacking each other with a wrench. The campaign also featured famous baseball players grimacing at the kiss. With the ad aired at the Superbowl at the beginning of last year, Snickers set up a website where viewers could ‘pick the best ending'. This, along with the television campaign, was quickly withdrawn after gay and lesbian rights groups complained to the product's owners, Mars Masterfoods.
The advert was removed two days after being shown at the Superbowl, 3 February 08.