I know it’s wrong to get so much pleasure out of crazy boycott’s run by the American Family Association. It’s just that when it comes to finding out the latest cool and gay marketing campaigns, they’re our first source. Take for instance two new Pepsi commercials out now that have prompted AFA to declare a carbonated jihad against the cola manufacturer. One’s a Canadian ad featuring a bisexual guy who comes out for Pepsi and the other’s from the UK. Watch it after the jump.
Watch the Pepsi Ad That’s Set Off a Homophobic Boycott
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Miss Understood
Funny, I think the ad is mildly homophobic itself. It is just like many SNL skits, the butt of the joke is that he’s gay. It may have been more clever if the viewer was the one misled rather than the friends.
Alex
@Miss Understood: I’m not sure it’s homophobic, but it’s just not all that funny. The twist is that he’s gay, and if that was a big twist, it could be funny. But (in part because the ad is on this site) it was unsurprising, so just not that funny.
Mr. Understood
I agree with both Miss Understood and Alex. It is both mildly homophobic AND not particularly funny. I’d classify it as sophomoric.
fermat
Don’t forget, it’s also sexist. The viewer is led to believe that the guy will first dump the bookish, plain woman for the one with the big boobs. The other two high fiving confirms that. Pepsi is using cliches all over the place.
Alexa
If it pisses the AFA off, I’m all for it.
cmh
Meh really average and sophomoric. Like the AFA.
fanboi
The AFA was kind enough to provide a number for Pepsi Customer Relations in order for outraged bible-bangers to call and lodge their bigoted “christian†judgment. But I used it to call and lodge my support AGAINST the AFA boycott and to thank them and ask them to keep up the good work. The customer relations person was SOOOO glad to hear from me. Please call and do the same and then tell a friend and have them tell 2 friends – and so on, and so on.
PLEASE CALL PEPSI TO THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT: 1-800-433-2652
YOU CAN ALSO CALL AND THANK PEPSI SUBSIDIARIES… (AFA targeted them for harassing phone calls too so give em a break and call to say thanks)
FRITO LAY: 800-352-4477
TROPICANA: 800-237-7799
GATORADE: 800-367-6287
fanboi
and the boycott was actually not started by the commercial – it was sparked by Pepsi’s $500,000 donation to PFLAG. The commercial just pissed them off more. 🙂
AFA Letter to PepsiCo Chairman Indra K. Nooyi from Donald E. Wildmon (October 14, 2008):
Recently we noticed that PepsiCo gave a $500,000 donation to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays. We were indeed surprised by PepsiCo’s support of the homosexual group. It would appear to us that PepsiCo would not involve itself in a political and culture war, especially supporting an organization seeking to redefine marriage and family.
We ask PepsiCo to remain neutral in this culture war, neither supporting nor opposing the homosexual agenda.
We would like to discuss this matter with PepsiCo. Would you have a representative of PepsiCo contact us?
Response from Paul Boykas, director, public policy to Donald E. Wildmon (November 18, 2008):
I’m responding to your letter to our Chairman. In 2008, the PepsiCo Foundation awarded a grant to Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays to support a national program specifically designed for workplace environments.
The initiative seeks to promote further understanding and equality in the places where people spend much of their time at work.
Among the values promoted by the PepsiCo Foundation is ensuring a work environment that is respectful and where associates are valued for their contributions. I hope this helps clarify this grant by the PepsiCo Foundation.
RichardR
@Alexa: Thank you, Alexa, for my first big chuckle today! I totally agree — if it upsets the likes of AFA, it’s a very good thing.
Emily
You’re right, the site is mildly homophobic. Why don’t we use this as an opportunity to teach the AFA something about boycotts, then? We should all call up the AFA and thank them for for their support in ending homophobia… that ought to get them in a tizzy 😛
Michael Jones
Also, we have an action alert up about this over at the Gay Rights blog at change.org (http://gayrights.change.org). With a couple clicks, you can send a thank you letter directly to Pepsi’s Consumer Affairs representative, thanking the company for their LGBT support. Here’s the direct link:
http://gayrights.change.org/actions/view/thank_pepsi_for_their_support_of_lgbt_rights
Scudder
There will prolly be the comments that drinking Pepsi makes you gay.
Come to think of it…there was a lot of Pepsi in our house when I was growing up.
ron
Dumb, homophobic Pepsi ad that seems like it’s from 1987.
scott
i think it’s a bit homophobic only because that dude on the right seems to be making a disgusted face. Not a shocked face. Like a WTF, you’re missing out on a beautiful babe. It’s more like, holy crap, ewwww, you’re going for a dude.
scott
oh, it’s also…
1. not clever
2. not funny
Badamj
I think its more pro gay than anything? It does depict male gay desire and courting which has to be progressive and a good thing The fact that his ‘friends’ don’t seem to know he is gay and are shocked seems to be some kind of implied rebuttal/disclaimer/apology to mainstream non-gay publics, or something? Its a weird ad. Who exactly are they targeting? Or is that the point:anything goes” blur transcend boundaries? I think it makes homosexuality seem somewhat banal and ordinary: acceptable to accountants or something. Anyway Coke tastes better
Mister C
I’M A PEPSI DRINKER FOR LIFE…FVCK COKE!
Badamj
I accept you. Can I tell you that the earth is flat and that the republicans won the 2008 USA election? Pepsi is sooooo gay and wrong…;lol
Vanhattan
I loved it