CUB’s Ginger Gene ad banned for ‘vilifying’ red heads
Carlton and United Breweries’ (CUB) Rusty Yak Gingery Ale campaign has been banned by the ad watchdog for “vilifying” those with red hair.
Complaints posted to Ad Standards labeled the ad – which asks consumers to “stop the spread of the Ginger Gene” which has been “floating around in our DNA” – as “offensive”, “racist”, “bullying” and “discriminating”.
Next they’ll start banning ads for vilifying ‘time poor mums’ and ‘stupid dads’.
I don’t want to live on this planet any more.
I have found female red hair to be extremely sexy!
What if they’d said they wanted to eradicate Asians or black people or whatever there would be an uproar. Not funny and not appropriate
With all due respect to red heads – if the ad hadn’t suggested genetic cleansing, then it might have been ok. Sure, red heads (especially those who are bullied for having red hair) would likely have copped it, and I certainly sympathise with them. But to suggest that they be eradicated is wrong. It’s not a nanny state thing – it’s just wrong.
You’ve got to be pretty pathetic to get triggered by that. No reasonable person would find anything wrong with this in the least.
I take it Larry you dont have a son that’s a redhead that gets bullied everyday and laughed at and been beaten up by three boys. Live a life as a redhead boy then you can comment there’s nothing wrong.
What would you know Larry. My partner is a stunning natural red head of 45 and we were both discussed with the advertisement. Stopping the spread of the ginger gene? Crass and lazy creative…not even funny. My partner was picked on at an early age..she’s now 45…stunning and a bit scared. Miffy is the only woman I’ve ever met that doesn’t colum her hair. She is beautiful and amazing. I’m a creative director in my own business…the ad was terrible and offensive.
Come on, Dean Parrot, you print ‘Keep calm and carry on’ posters. I’m not trusting your creative direction or verdict in the slightest…
I’m ginger, I’m aware what life tosses around. It is so light hearted, lets not get silly.
This is truly PC infiltrating every vein of life. For one, gingers are not a race, so to imply that is really clutching at straws. This is like an episode of Summer Heights high.
Bullying is not condoned through this comedic ad. Anyone bullied is unfortunate, but is certainly not this ads fault. Come on.
I’m a ginger and i absolutely stand by this ad. Go Rusty Yak.
Come on, Dean Parrot, you print ‘Keep calm and carry on’ posters. I’m not trusting your creative direction or verdict in the slightest…
I’m ginger, I’m aware what life tosses around. It is so light hearted, lets not get silly.
I am an MC1R and proud of it, also lefthanded, and blue eyed.
No, redheads are not a “race” per se the mutation occurs in every ethnicity, does that somehow justify discrimination, humiliation and assault??
The commercial wasnt funny, the contest stupid and the comment about “stopping the gene” completely over the line.
The fact that they stand by it even after being told it was offensive, makes it even more offensive.
I suggest they name their next product Dr. Mengeles Buchenwald Brew seems he too was fascinated with genetic manipulation