Snickers “Kiss” Ad Canned

Published on Thursday, February 8, 2007, by Christy Harrison / Edit Post

On Tuesday the maker of Snickers said it would discontinue its latest ad, responding to complaints by gay-rights organizations that the commercial was homophobic. The ad, which first aired during the Super Bowl, depicts two auto mechanics “accidentally” kissing as they eat from opposite ends of a Snickers bar; they immediately feel the need to “do something manly,” which of course means each ripping out a handful of their own chest hair (or drinking motor oil, or bashing each other with wrenches, according to the alternate endings that were posted on the Snickers website until Tuesday).

OK, putting aside for a moment the clear gay-bashing overtones and heinous violence here, can we just talk about how much the candy bar looks like poop? The lighting is all wrong, people! That, combined with the images of ripped-out chest hair, makes me not want to eat anything at all (let alone a Snickers) for a long time. Totally the opposite of food porn.

Fast-food commercials in general seem to have been going in this unappetizing direction for a while now (at least since Carl’s Jr. began its “slobvertising” back in 2000). Perhaps it’s a reaction to all the gorgeous foodie photography in magazines and on TV and blogs these days—just like the recent wave of calorie-bomb burgers is a big eff-you to nutrition-conscious eaters.

Have you seen any totally nasty food ads lately?

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POST A COMMENT |7 Comments

COMMENT

  • I was disappointed in most of the Super Bowl ads, including this one. I wasn't sure if it was homophobic or making fun of homophobes, but either way, I thought it was stupid. There are several ads on TV now that I know, but I don't know the product. Like the one where the two guys are pushing on the sides of cows and singing, "my milkshake is better than yours." I love that and I have no idea...+READ

    I was disappointed in most of the Super Bowl ads, including this one. I wasn't sure if it was homophobic or making fun of homophobes, but either way, I thought it was stupid. There are several ads on TV now that I know, but I don't know the product. Like the one where the two guys are pushing on the sides of cows and singing, "my milkshake is better than yours." I love that and I have no idea WHOSE ad that is!-COLLAPSE

  • Actually, it might be one of the best superbowl ads ever. not because it made me want a snickers, but because it was hilarious and unexpected. way more entertaining (and I guess equally as offensive) as the "wardrobe malfunction" of a few years ago.

    I didn't find it homophobic (although the european version would've ended at the "kiss"), in fact, i thought it was progressive. First commercial...+READ

    Actually, it might be one of the best superbowl ads ever. not because it made me want a snickers, but because it was hilarious and unexpected. way more entertaining (and I guess equally as offensive) as the "wardrobe malfunction" of a few years ago.

    I didn't find it homophobic (although the european version would've ended at the "kiss"), in fact, i thought it was progressive. First commercial I've seen where two men kiss, and on the NFL no less.

    It was insensitive, especially with NFL players commenting on it...what are they gonna say? "yeah, it's cool, two men kissing".

    We've seen it on the sopranos, brokeback mountain, and will & grace, even the simpsons has done it...so get over it, gay is just another aspect of society. there are a lot more offensive things than that to worry about.-COLLAPSE

  • The NFL players "ewww gay!" stuff is idiotic and embarassing.
    (I don't think there was anything wrong with the ad either.)

  • I didn't think there was anything wrong with the ad, pretty soon, we won't be able to do anything without the PC police shutting it down. Stupid...

  • Personally...I thought this ad (as shown on the tube) made FUN of homo-phobics. My 2 cents.

  • If you went to the Snickers website, you were also treated to clips of various NFL players showing their utter disgust at the thought of two men kissing. Shockingly, I have heard rumors that there are indeed gay people in America in 2007.

    But you are correct about the food commercials. Most of them simply want me to avoid the product. Watching some one stuff his or her face with a burger isn't...+READ

    If you went to the Snickers website, you were also treated to clips of various NFL players showing their utter disgust at the thought of two men kissing. Shockingly, I have heard rumors that there are indeed gay people in America in 2007.

    But you are correct about the food commercials. Most of them simply want me to avoid the product. Watching some one stuff his or her face with a burger isn't enticing.-COLLAPSE

  • If you went to the website that featured the alternate ending to the Snickers commercials, you also got treated to clips of various NFL players sharing their complete and total disgust at the thought of two guys kissing. (Shockingly, I have heard rumors that there are gay people in America in 2007.)

    Of course, if it had been two women kissing, those same NFL players would have been watching the...+READ

    If you went to the website that featured the alternate ending to the Snickers commercials, you also got treated to clips of various NFL players sharing their complete and total disgust at the thought of two guys kissing. (Shockingly, I have heard rumors that there are gay people in America in 2007.)

    Of course, if it had been two women kissing, those same NFL players would have been watching the clip over and over and over and over.

    For research purposes only, no doubt.-COLLAPSE