Snickers in Spain has pulled a controversial TV advert after complaints from a few people who considered it homophobic' The advert is one of a long running series showing strange characters getting back to normal after eating a Snickers. In
this case the strange character was the rather effeminate Spanish influencer Aless Gibaja who transformed into a regular masculine guy with a beard and low voice. The video went viral this week, with some calling for a boycott of Snickers over
homophobia, presumably because the masculine guy was depicted as an improvement on the effeminate guy. The State Federation of Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals tweeted: It is shameful and regrettable that at this point
there are companies that continue to perpetuate stereotypes and promote homophobia.
Spain's equality minister, Irene Montero, also joined the criticism: I wonder to whom it might seem like a good
idea to use homophobia as a business strategy. Our society is diverse and tolerant. Hopefully those who have the power to make decisions about what we see and hear in commercials and TV shows will learn to be too.
On Thursday, Snickers Spain said it was deleting the advert and apologised for any misunderstanding it may have caused. The company said: In this specific campaign, the aim was to convey in a friendly and casual way
that hunger can change your character. At no time has it been intended to stigmatize or offend any person or group.
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