Watch Snickers 'get some nuts' by AMV BBDO
The ad features a speed walker, who faces a hail of Snickers fired by the former A-Team actor, who admonishes the jogger to "run like a real man".
The decision to withdraw the ad was welcomed by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, which had complained to the company about the spot.
A Mars spokeswoman said: "This ad is the second in a series of UK Snickers ads featuring Mr T, which are meant to be fun and have been positively received in the UK.
"However, we understand that humour is highly subjective, and it is never our intention to cause offence.
"Accordingly, we have pulled the Mr T Speedwalker ad globally."
HRC workplace director Daryl Herrschaft said the ad perpetuated the notion that the gay community was "a group of second class citizens and that violence against gay people is not only acceptable, but humorous".
He said: "HRC applauds Mars for taking swift and appropriate action."
The ad was produced by Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO. The firm last month saw another of its ads, for Heinz Deli Mayo, withdrawn after complaints its portrayal of a kiss between two men promoted homosexuality.
What do you think? Is the ad just a gentle poke at health nuts, or a threat to the status of the gay community? Leave your comments below:
Mars withdraws 'homophobic' Snickers ad after complaints
by Colin Marrs, Campaign, 28 July 2008, 10:35am
LONDON - Mars has withdrawn its latest UK ad for Snickers, featuring Mr T, after complaints that it was offensive to gay people.
All Comments
Gordon Macmillan - 28 July 2008
Agreed. IIts an where property gets destroyed, which is always cool. Personally i would have like an explosion. The real issue is that running and runners suck. It's boring and bad gives you knees like an 80 year old. Walking rocks.
Colin Marrs - 28 July 2008
The ad contains no indication that the speedwalker character is gay, which makes this decision a little hard to explain.
Will Humphrey - 28 July 2008
I remember when ads used to be banned for *really* being offensive. Bit of a shame, this 'un.
Ricky Harewood - 28 July 2008
This is quality... shame they've banned it... I never realised all speed walkers were homosexual. You learn something new every day…..
Tommy Mancktelow - 28 July 2008
i dont get why its gay. professional speedwalkers actually walk like that. the only possible gay thing about that is the outfit. but then again short shorts and neon are very in this summer;)
oh the drama over nothing.
GRAHAM WEST - 28 July 2008
Now, having Knob shaped chocolate bars thrust into your face, whilst simply walking the streets is offensive. I can see why it was banned. That combined with the free press.
LeeH - 28 July 2008
"HRC workplace director Daryl Herrschaft said the ad perpetuated the notion that the gay community was "a group of second class citizens and that violence against gay people is not only acceptable, but humorous""
As a member of the 'gay community' I can't say that I can recollect any chocolate bar related incidents of violence! Unless you count the time that George Michael was careless with his Wispa but that was a totally different ball game!
Madness, total bloody madness!
jezwaspsrule - 28 July 2008
Is the author of this story and the ban itself in some way related? I think we should be told.
James Walters - 28 July 2008
Is this a spoof story? Colin Marrs? Lol I bet he does all the chocolate stories
Daniel Headey - 28 July 2008
'political correctness' gone mad. ridiculous.
(presuming it isn't a pr stunt of course.)
Noel Bussey - 28 July 2008
That's right, Colin does do all the chocolate stories just like Francesca does all of the Angling stories
Lucy Barrett - 28 July 2008
Didn't AMV also create the Heinz "gay kiss" ad? It got more publicity than they could have dreamt of. This looks like the agency thinks it has hit upon a winning formula for free publicity...Fools
Jane Moore - 28 July 2008
WHAT???
that is ridiculous! ...all these people on commities....they just like to assert the little bit of authority that they have..no gay friend of mine feels put down by this ad and are actually angry that this has been banned.
This is what happens when you give idiots rights
...all presuming it isnt a PR stunt...but I doubt it is...however if it is...well done i guess :-)
Jeremy Lee - 28 July 2008
It's almost as absurd as those stories in the 80s about it taking 3 hours for Mr T to put on all those gold chains before filming started on the A Team - utter rot.
Both AMV and Mars have a habit of doing these silly little stunts - rennet for the veggies anyone? Not impressed
Noel Bussey - 28 July 2008
i don't think its a PR stunt - i think its just a bunch of politically correct cultural retards not noticing that the line "run like a real man" is paraphrasing a line said by Clubber Lang, Mr T's character in Rocky III, to Rocky Balboa's wife, Adrian. I personally pity those fools.
Roger OThornhill - 28 July 2008
If this was a Marketing magazine story I'd say PR stunt but it isn't so I'm guessing it is for real
Hubert Boulos - 28 July 2008
It's Ad Age's editorial by Garfield that triggered the whole "scandal".....the guy is truly a retard, plus I find it quite offensive to have an Amrican journalist attack British ads based on his very own American view of what is acceptable and what is not...at least thanks to him we now know that spped walkers are homosexuals....what's next The Cadbury Gorilla ad being offensive to apes? Garfield you're what your fellow New Yorkers qualify as a SCHMUCK
werwr wrwerwewr - 02 August 2008
You all have valid points. I personally don't think it is all about PR however. But the target audiences' knowledge and education play an incredible role too. This is something missing in today's marketplace. The ad, same as Heinz Mayo one, employed humour and there is nothing wrong with using humour but the problem is humour appeal needs highly educated audience, who are analytical and socially aware. The way the guy was walking/running is Marathon maybe... Before criticising the ad I believe we need to analyse it deeply and discuss all features used within the ad. There is a hidden message which we need to be decoded it well. Sadly today we do not have the time to decode every ad but quickly accuse the creator.....It's not fair! The ad is sophisticated and modern - I like that :)
Stefano Augello - 08 August 2008
The Human Rights Campaign has made an ironically stupid move: there is no correlation between speedwalking (which is genuinely ridiculous, we can agree on that) and homosexuality. By implying that correlation the HRC is falling for the very same stereotypes it's mean to fight, and effectively stating that, well, gays are faggots. Good job!
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