So, remember Heinz’s “gay” commercial that caused that big stink, nearly gave Bill O’Reilly a coronary and ended up getting yanked? If not, we’ve included it above.
Anyway, Britain’s advertising authority announced today that they will not be investigating complaints:
The UK’s advertising regulator has decided not to investigate Heinz’s “male kiss” TV ad, despite 215 complaints from viewers that it was offensive and “inappropriate to see two men kissing”.
Heinz’s TV ad for its new Deli Mayo line, which features two men sharing a brief kiss, has caused an international furore after the food company decided to pull the ad off air after less than a week.
However, the Advertising Standards Authority said today that it will not launch a formal investigation into the complaints about the TV ad.
“The ASA council considered that while some viewers may have personal objections to any portrayal of same sex kissing there was nothing in the content of the advertisement what would constitute a breach of the advertising code,” said a spokesman for the ASA.
Despite this decision – and a petition pushing for the advert’s return – Heinz will not put the commercial back in circulation. Thankfully, YouTube keeps it alive. Three cheers for the internet!
CHURCHILL-Y
I wonder if the majority of those 215 complaints were made by Caribbean, African and Muslim viewers, given all the homophobic incidents they have been perpetrating in the UK as of recently.
l
Here’s another piece of the story.http://www.pinknews.co.uk/news/articles/2005-8189.html Pink News reports that the American Family Association was behind the complaints that got the ad pulled. Very sad that our crazy American fundies are offended by TV they don’t even get. These evil lunatics think they are in charge of media for the entire f-ing English-speaking world!
logan767
it’s fucking ridiculous that that ad was pulled. if anything, the queers should have been complaining slightly. it does sort of play the whole ha-ha butch guy is in a gay relationship? what?? routine…
Alco
Ok, I had never seen the ad in question, I just did and… wow.
There’s nothing gay about it except the kiss. Fucking morons can’t even understand it. I’m actually sad for them.
Trenton
Do you really think that, C-Hilly? I doubt it. You’re the kind of person who believes that “those people” are too underachieving and therefore too poor to own a television. So how could they have even seen it?
Oh, right…you think they all just steal their televisions. That must be it…My mistake.
More to the point…it seems kind of ridiculous to pull an ad over so few complaints. Am I correct in thinking that the total was only 215, or were there only 215 that made this warrant an inquiry?
l
Oh well. Maybe Oscar Mayer will just have to one up Heinz. Hmmm… what could they do?
RPCV
But, if Heinz did rerun the ad and filmed the sequel “Heinz Mayo As Lube: Daddy Plows Mum’s Ass In Front Of The Kids” I bet the Advertising Standards Authority WOULD investigate…………
Marc
I am sick of this dispute about you pulling the commercial with the gay kiss.
If it was a gimmick to get your name in the papers well, I guess you have achieved your goal.
I believe this as you have refused to return the ad to the airwaves, so THAT IN ITSELF makes me believe you have pulled a publicity stunt.
Therefore, from this moment on I do not buy any of your products.
Not a one, and if someone brings one over, I’m chucking it out the window onto the lawn.
Marc.
RPCV
Marc: As if Heinz cares what you’ll do with their product……….
Natalie
Churchill-y: I think you’ll find these complaints were sent in by Mary Whitehouse-Lites and the sad people that have nothing better to do than complain. Usually parents that wonder ‘How ever will i explain this to little Jimmy and Joan’.
Rikard
Do they not understand that it’s Mom making the sandwiches? She’s in her “Deli Guy” persona making lunches and will probably morph into Jeff Gordon to drive the car pool and Oprah for the coffee klatch.