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Loading ...Nike Drops Homophobic Ads
07.26.2008 12:45pm EDT
Nike said Friday it would pull its ads for its Hyperdunk basketball shoes, responding to criticism that they fed homophobic views.
Nike previously defended the ads, but said it would withdraw them as quickly as possible “to underline our ongoing commitment to supporting diversity in sport and the workplace,” The Oregonian reported.The ads were created by Portland’s Wieden+Kennedy agency and titled “That Ain’t Right,” “Isn’t That Cute,” and “Punks Jump Up.”
One ad showed a basketball player dunking over another. The crotch of the player dunking was planted firmly in the other player’s face. The ad sported a large tag line: “That Ain’t Right.”
Earlier, Nike had said the ads were “based purely upon a common insight from within the game of basketball – the athletic feat of dunking on the opposition, and is not intended to be offensive.”
Nike also reiterated its “history of supporting athletes regardless of their sexual orientation.” Nike has been praised by gay-rights advocates for supporting a 2007 Oregon law banning discrimination against gays in work, housing and public places.
An after hours call to Nike corporate communications rang unanswered Friday.
Pushing your crotch in a guys face (uninvited) is rude.
Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar…
I agree, that’s pretty ridiculous.
The reason why getting dunked “ain’t right” is because it’s a considered degrading position for a man to be in – not just unpleasant, but outright humiliating in terms of dominance – this is the same sentiment which makes homophobic people degrade gays.
I do not think this commerical is homophobic. I think it is playing that gettind dunked “Ain’t Right.” It plays on the ego of males. I think some people are just being too sensitive. All because the add has a man’s head in another man’s crotch with a tag line “That Ain’t Right” does not make it homophobic. It is just cheeky. Though, i am willing to admit that it does only add to some ignorant people’s ego, & they will use it to promote their erraneous beliefe in homophobia. But, eh. Ignorant people can go squirt a lemon in their eye then rub salt into.
The commerical was harmless. & i agree. I do not like a man’s crotch to suddenly land on my face during a game of basketball. Most people wouldn’t.
This new design is not mobile friendly. I am using sidekick.
I think society needs to stop throwing around the term “homophobic” like it’s free candy on Halloween. Because half of society doesn’t know what the meaning of the word actually is. I think the ad is ignorant and tacky, but I don’t believe it has anything to do with homosexuality. What, because it shows a guy’s face in another guy’s crotch? There we go again, gay community, with perpetuating the idea that gays = sex sex sex.
Yeah, I can see how this plays on homophobia.
Homophobia is very common among jocks and athletes. Why exactly is that?
Because getting dunked is supposed to be degrading. This is something gay people, I assume, actually like. Since gays like this “degrading” thing, gays are “less than men” and hence are “queens” and hence degrading them is the “manly” thing to do.
If you’re a kid who likes sport, and you’ve been taught as a kid that getting your face in another man’s crotch is humiliating, and when you grow up and realize you’re gay and you actually like it, you’re not going to be happy about being gay. And you definitely don’t want to come out to your basket-ball fan friends.
You’ve got to be kidding me. Someone took offense to this ad as being homophobic? Where is there fear in this commercial (that is what phobia implies, right)? I personally don’t care to have anyone’s crotch stuffed in my face without explicit permission, and I believe that is the message the ad conveys. Certainly it has nothing to do with homophobia. Why waste ammo on targets that mean no harm?
hey
i think that we are being ridiculas.. I am gay here btw..
the ad was funny and i think people who get offended so easily are being babies
sorry
I have not seen the ad myself. However, it would be beneficial for organizations like Nike to carefully screen their promotional material to build bridges or connections with other people…not walls. Having GLBT persons as an active part of the screening process for new ads would likely be a useful investment on many levels.
You know what? Let’s just agree to disagree. I did read the first sentence, “David Ta, There are theories that would dispute both,” and I replied, “Can you name me the theories that disputes them?” I asked a simple question in reply to yours and you can’t answer it.
The problem I have with the add is that “That ain’t right” is commonly used when describing gays and gay activities. Very common reaction to two guys kissing, for example.
Oh please, stop being so touchy! Im gay but I don’t want the crotch of another guy in face while I’m trying to play. Things like this always backfire. If there was a sexual intention from one of the players then I say is ok to protest. We cant get married yet in most of the states, we even get legally discriminated in some others. Aren’t there more urgent issues out there?
David Ta, did you only read the fist sentence of the reply?
“David Ta, There are theories that would dispute both. All of the attention has giving Nike and the Ad agency exactly what there were looking for. Perhaps all media should be bannned so that everyone is protected. Now you’ll find the Nike with the same images with a different slogan. The croch ad is now “Say Hello” instead of “That Ain’t Right”. I guess one could say the Nike is now promoting Homosexuality. This is crazy.”