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Nike Ad Gets Queer Jeers

By Andrew Belonsky July 22, 2008 at 10:07am · 28 comments

nike-1.jpg
Some gays are seeing red over this Nike ad.

In fact, Gay Recluse says the company has set a new standard for homophobic advertising.

Meanwhile, how do you think they shot that shit?

Advertising Homophobia Nike
View Comments28

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28 Comments

  • hells kitchen guy

    I’m a card-carrying fag and I wouldn’t want someone’s sweaty ass in my face during a basketball game.

    July 22, 2008 at 10:07am
  • dizzy spins

    For Crissake, this is not a gay ad. In fact, its kind of obnoxious that any sort of genital contact is assumed to be “gay.” Maybe “Gay Recluse” should go back to his cave.

    July 22, 2008 at 10:07am
  • Paul Raposo

    If anything, it’s racist; why are both ball players white? Aren’t there many African American basketball players? I guess having a black man get a crotch in the face would be TOO insensitive.

    July 22, 2008 at 10:07am
  • Roman

    I’m with HKG… it’s not a homophobia thing. There’s a time and a place for crotch-in-the-face and game time simply isn’t it! As for Paul’s suggestion that it’s racist, on my screen the top player looks African American to me, but I could be wrong.

    July 22, 2008 at 10:07am
  • Erick

    If you watch the whole campaign, its about invading personal space in a physical game and that aint right. I agree, its not homophobic. Sensitive much? I found a link that showcases the whole thing.

    http://wkstudio.typepad.com/studio/2008/06/hyperdunk-print.html

    July 22, 2008 at 11:07am
  • richard

    I thought The Gays were supposed to have a fabulous sense of humor. Have we become so sadsack and dull and boring that we can’t chuckle mildly at a mildly funny ad about nutchucking?

    July 22, 2008 at 11:07am
  • mark

    Any queer losing sleep over this ad?
    Ignore the stupidity of jocks, we’ve been doing it since day 1.

    July 22, 2008 at 11:07am
  • REBELComx

    I don’t know Paul, that guy on top sure looks black. But yeah i think this is overreacting. Gay or straight…if you’r playing a sport, Some guy slammin his crotch into your face just isn’t right.

    July 22, 2008 at 11:07am
  • CHURCHILL-Y

    Once again the apologist for all those who would like nothing more than to throw us back in the closet have come to surface.

    A man’s face in another’s balls/ass is not something people especially those at whom
    this sport is targeted at (minorities), equate with Homosexuality?
    Which as it is they view as something repulsive(one only has to look on any given day on Queerty to find
    some homophobic shit said, done, committed by them), now with this ad that will only reaffirm it in their minds.
    The Ad is correct on one thing though, A white man’s face on a black/charcoal dick is most def not right at all.
    Any self respecting white homo willing to stoop to that level needs to do some deep thinking about whats wrong with him.

    July 22, 2008 at 11:07am
  • jjh

    Have to disagree. This series of ads is more basketball trash-talking than homophobia.

    On the other hand, the new Mr. T Snickers ad where he attacks a swishy-looking speed walker for not being manly enough is something we SHOULD be outraged about.

    http://adage.com/garfield/post?article_id=129767

    Let’s pick our battles and not cry homophobia at the slighest joke.

    July 22, 2008 at 11:07am
  • CHURCHILL-Y

    ^ Flawed way of thinking not all Gay men are “swishy-looking” although that’s the perception most people like to have of us to get away with shit like the one they did to Mr. Walsh.
    And while most def Mr. T’S ad should be something dealt with that doesn’t make any less more important or a “joke” the Nike’s ad. Because in the end and above everything else what people hate the most about us is that we are same gender loving. One only has to see the current political battles being centered around us right now, it’s not against some “swishy-looking” hairdresser it’s against the right of two adults of the same gender to get married.
    And anything that even hints that two people of the same sex touching eachother whether accidentally or intentionally is wrong or unnatural should be taken
    seriously by us.

    July 22, 2008 at 12:07pm
  • Alacer

    goddamnit, Churchill-Y, you just couldn’t resist bringing up race could you…give it a rest already.

    July 22, 2008 at 12:07pm
  • Amber LeMay

    hrumph fromph phromf fromph phromph

    July 22, 2008 at 1:07pm
  • Amber LeMay

    Sorry – I was talking with my mouth full.

    July 22, 2008 at 1:07pm
  • Paul Raposo

    Roamn and REBEL, interesting. If the top–excuse the term–is indeed a black male, what would the reaction be if the roles were reversed and he were the bottom receiving the white man’s taint. Would that upset the tender personalities of Nike’s target demographic, I wonder?

    As far as it being homophobic, I don’t think so. But I don’t play basketball–lacrosse was my game–I always expected my personal space to be invaded.

    July 22, 2008 at 1:07pm
  • Paul Raposo

    Sorry, Roman and REBELComx.

    July 22, 2008 at 1:07pm
  • REBELComx

    well in all fairness paul, i’m not sure the bottom (hehe) is white. could be a latin guy or a light skinned black. That’s a decent tan. It’s the lighting. Really screws with skin tone. I’m sure if the top guy was definitely white and the bottom guy was black though, there would be an uproar over it being racist.

    July 22, 2008 at 1:07pm
  • Paul Raposo

    REBELComx, some interesting points. I have to wonder though; how did the ad adgency advertise for models and will either guy be bragging about this photoshoot?

    “Dudes balls were right in my face!”

    “I think I felt his tongue.”

    No. 14Amber LeMay
    Sorry – I was talking with my mouth full.

    Ha! I just got that, Amber 8^)

    July 22, 2008 at 4:07pm
  • dizzy spins

    So basically gay men are such sex-obsessed perverts that we want balls in our mouths every second of the day? And anyone suggesting that they might not w ant to have a stranger’s genitals shoved in their mouth during a sporting event is homophobic?

    BUT, suggesting that this ad is targeted at “minorities”–because “minorities” only care about basketball–is NOT racist?

    Is that how it works?

    July 22, 2008 at 6:07pm
  • fri

    its assumed that there’s going to be bodily contact in sports. getting a guys balls in your face should be the very least of your concerns when there’s risks of actually being seriously injured. but nike wouldn’t say “that ain’t right” over a picture of a hockey player getting his teeth knocked out or a football player getting his torn ligament trampled n by a guy who weighs 300 pounds. no, “that ain’t right” only applies to minor contact that involves a guys crotch touching another guys face. maybe it would be preferable if he elbowed him in the chest, breaking a few ribs?

    July 22, 2008 at 6:07pm
  • Snoodle

    I don’t see this as a homophobic ad…when playing sports, does anybody really want that to happen?? Not only for the sweaty-crotch-in-your-face factor…but I’m fairly certain that guy’s neck could snap…

    July 23, 2008 at 1:07am
  • Woof

    # 19 “So basically gay men are such sex-obsessed perverts that we want balls in our mouths every second of the day? ”

    UM YES!

    July 23, 2008 at 9:07am
  • M Shane

    The ad doesn’t seem Homophobic to me!
    Saddly I like the fit of Nikes’ however they are one of the #1 supporters of the Brtutal right wing government in Indonsesia, where all the shoes are made by slave labor.

    Their Coup was supported by the U.S . , where every left wing person including their elected president were massacred so that U.S corporations could take over everything.
    Good company not to support regardless of homophobia.

    July 23, 2008 at 1:07pm
  • greybat

    Basetball’s such a tedious game….why not a little crotch time? It could be a prelude to shower time!

    July 23, 2008 at 4:07pm
  • greybat

    Sorry, I spelled “basketball” wrong!

    July 23, 2008 at 4:07pm
  • Chad

    If you take the time to look at the rest of the ad campaign, like Erick suggested (at http://wkstudio.typepad.com/studio/2008/06/hyperdunk-print.html) you’ll see that some of the posters could be considered downright queer-friendly. One has a similar crotch/face combo that says “Now You Know” and another called “Isn’t That Cute”. I think sometimes we are just looking to be offended.

    July 23, 2008 at 7:07pm
  • Mr C

    AMEN Chad!

    July 25, 2008 at 5:07am
  • don kish

    All the serious problems in the world and a debate rages over whether a ball player is black and a anti gay message is in this ad! Amazing an anti gay message can be seen but the threat of terrorism cannot by such a large majority of Americans.

    July 28, 2008 at 11:07am

Comments are closed.

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