WHERE SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING MEETS LGBTQ+ EQUALITY

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Company: Perfetti Van Melle Group
    View Company Scorecard / Contact Company
Brand: Vigorsol chewing gum
Ad Title: Tourist
Business Category: Confectionery/Candy/Gum
Media Outlets: Television
Country: Italy
Region: Europe
Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Year: 1999
Target: Mainstream
Company: Perfetti Van Melle Group
    View Company Scorecard / Contact Company
Brand: Vigorsol chewing gum
Ad Title: Tourist
Business Category: Confectionery/Candy/Gum
Media Outlets: Television
Country: Italy
Region: Europe
Agency: Bartle Bogle Hegarty
Year: 1999
Target: Mainstream
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Theme(s)

Same-Sex Affection

Homophobia/Transphobia

Theme Breakdown

AdRespect Score: 
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Set for some reason in New York's seedy meat packing district, a nerdy guy wearing a backpack walks seemingly unknowingly into a gay bar.

He tries to order a drink but, as he turns, his backpack bumps a big guy's arm and spills his drink. The music stops and the guy gets up, a foot taller than the nerd, looking ready to punch him. (We are to expect this as a standard straight guy reaction.)

The smaller guy takes a stick of Vigorsol chewing gum and, like the comic book hero Incredible Hulk, grows huge muscles. The bigger guy suddenly likes what he sees and the small guy finally realizes he's in a gay bar as he looks around.

Amusingly, the commercial closes with the two slow dancing together.

This farcical ad is a twist on the old-fashioned little-guy-conquers-big-guy story. It would be more positive if the little guy were also supposed to be gay and didn't have an unhappy look of realization as to the type of bar he's in.

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Joseph Wickliff , Chicago
There is no question that this is a negative ad. Not to be overly sensitive, but we are to believe that the bumped man's offense is defused by his love of muscles. Isn't that kind of why they don't want gays in the military isn't it? If he's cute, I might not shoot him! Conversely, men (straight, gay whatever) are just that superficial. Why do you think Hooters has made it so big?

Russell , Hanover, PA
Call me superficial, but if he's cute, I ain't shooting him.

Nick B. , West Palm Beach, FL
I think it is funny. The stereotype does exist, just like there are dumb blondes and other stereotypes. Commercials are often a play on stereotypes. Why shouldn't the gay community be ridiculed just like everyone else?

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Bouncer
Company: Perfetti Van Melle Group
Brand: Smint
Country: Spain
Region: Europe
Year: 2018

AdRespect Score:

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