Apparently people in Australia seriously think this Maltesers advert is turning people gay
Complaints have been made about an advert for Malteasers, claiming that because they kiss (they don’t), it will turn people gay.
In the TV advert, which has been aired around the world, including in the UK, in recent years, two straight men are tricked into cuddling by two women while they sleep.
Now, a number of viewers have made official complaints to the Advertising Standards Burea (ASB) in Australia, claiming that, like images of smoking and drinking can make teenagers smoke and drink, watching two men cuddle will make them gay.
One complaint read: “I find it very offensive that while I’m watching tv with my child that an ad with a man kiss another man to come on to try and sell chocolates just like smoking and drinking alcohol leads to young people to do these things I feel strong that advertising homosexuals is try to turn young people gay.”
Another said: “The two women place their boyfriends in a sexual/suggestive position while they are asleep. They are seen to kiss. The two women then laugh at what they have done. This ad is offensive because it continues to perpetuate the idea that being gay or male closeness is something to be ridiculed and laughed at.”
The complaints were dismissed by Mars Confectionery, which owns Malteasers, as “playful”, saying it would be inappropriate to project any sexual orientation onto the men, given the context of the joke.
The ASB also dismissed the complaints, saying the idea that two men kissing could make young people turn gay was an “unlikely interpretation and not one that is likely to be shared by the broader community.”
The bureau went on to comment on the suggestion that the depiction of male intimacy as a joke could be found offensive, saying it was “not a derogatory sentiment toward homosexual men and did not depict material which discriminates against or vilifies a person on account of sexual preference.”
The ad is available to view below
