WHERE SUCCESSFUL ADVERTISING MEETS LGBTQ+ EQUALITY

AdRespect Ad Library Profile

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Company: T-Mobile International
    View Company Scorecard / Contact Company
Brand: T-Mobile/TMobile/T Mobile
Ad Title: Basketball
Business Category: Telecommunications
Media Outlets: Television
Country: United States
Region: North America
Agency: Publicis Groupe
Year: 2003
Target: Mainstream
Ad Spotter: Jill K. H.
Company: T-Mobile International
    View Company Scorecard / Contact Company
Brand: T-Mobile/TMobile/T Mobile
Ad Title: Basketball
Business Category: Telecommunications
Media Outlets: Television
Country: United States
Region: North America
Agency: Publicis Groupe
Year: 2003
Target: Mainstream
Ad Spotter: Jill K. H.
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Theme(s)

Racial Diversity

Insufficient Masculinity/Femininity

Theme Breakdown

AdRespect Score: 
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Several guys are playing basketball, when one of the men compliments the other on his sneakers, saying "Cool shoes." Another, looks down and affirms, "Yeah, cute."

The shoe owner looks back at the second man, concerned, and the other is dismayed.

Trademark spokeswoman Catherine Zeta-Jones intervenes and says, "Time out!" (The action "stops," but not really, more like a theater group where everyone pauses.) "Mike here, needs to get in touch with his masculine side. Fast."

"Good thing T-Mobile lets him call whenever he wants," she says and as if a superhero, she puts a cell phone in his hand. Then she yells, "Go!" And the action begins again.

As the basketball players resume, the man calls his girlfriend (who appears in a small circle on screen) and tells her in his deepest voice, "Uh, the guys and I are going to go eat some red meat. I don't know when I'm going to be home." With a smile, she asks, "Did you say 'cute' again?" He chokes out, "Yeah."

While homosexuality itself does not come up in the commercial, the man's masculinity is called into question because of a single word choice. (Despite the fact that he's otherwise traditionally masculine acting.) Gay men's masculinity is often called into question, so there was a wide dislike of this spot.

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Mike Sofield , Marlton, NJ
I disagree with this being a negative ad. I think at worst it is Neutral. I've seen this ad on TV, and I think the joke is actually the absurd notions that masculinity is defined by red meat and being independent from one's girlfriend. This may even make this ad gay-positive in my opinion.

Lemmy Mueller , Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK
I cannot see why this should be a negative ad. He "needs to get in touch with his masculine side" and goes on to call his girlfriend. It's a positive depiction of a relationship where the roles are reversed.

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Brand: T-Mobile/TMobile/T Mobile
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Region: North America
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Country: United States
Region: US National
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AdRespect Score:

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