Peanut butter and Uber Eats are drawing criticism after its Super Bowl commercial appeared to make light of a man’s allergic reaction to peanut butter.
The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) organisation was “surprised and disappointed” to see the corporation utilise allergies as a joke.
One user, who is allergic to peanuts, described the advertisement as “disgusting, tone-deaf, and completely unnecessary”.
The BBC has contacted Uber Eats for comment.
Uber Eats Advert Criticised For Peanut Allergy Joke
“Don’t Forget Uber Eats” was released as the company’s Super Bowl advertisement, with millions of Americans expected to watch it on Super Bowl Sunday.
Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, and David and Victoria Beckham reprise their roles from Friends.
The basis of the advertisement is that people forget things.
One scene depicts the Beckhams in their kitchen, with David asking former Spice Girl Victoria, “Remember when you used to be a Pepper Lady?” She replies, “Wasn’t it the Cinnamon Sisters?”
But the debate begins when a man appears to be having an allergic reaction, with hives on his face and a swollen eye, and asks, “There’s peanuts in peanut butter?” as he glances at the jar’s label.
Uber Eats Advert Criticised For Peanut Allergy Joke
He is then shown remarking, “Oh, it’s the primary ingredient.”
Food Allergy Canada stated that food allergies were “no laughing matter” and encouraged the corporation to change the advertisement.
Dr Sung Poblete, the head of the charity FARE, expressed worry that advertisements using food allergies as humour could foster bullying among children.
“These types of commercials and types of jokes allow kids to think that there’s not going to be any harm and it’s going to be funny,” she told me.
She stated that she wanted to teach Uber Eats about what it’s like to live with a food allergy to promote awareness.
The NHS describes Anaphylaxis as a life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs rapidly. Foods, medications, or insect stings can induce it.
The ad tries to hide its hilarity by writing in small text at the bottom of the screen: “Please, please, do not forget there are peanuts in peanut butter.”
But JD Arland from Indiana, allergic to peanuts and soy, said: “The text at the bottom makes it even worse.”
Uber Eats Advert Criticised For Peanut Allergy Joke
He expressed outrage on social media, stating that the usage of an allergic reaction in an advertisement was disgusting, tone-deaf, and entirely unnecessary. This clichéd portrayal of Anaphylaxis has relentlessly harassed me my entire life. Uber Eats must stop perpetuating this insulting joke.
Despite his outrage, Mr Arland, a content manager for a sports website, told the BBC that he saw a chance for education.
“As somebody [with food allergies]… ordering delivery is really hard, because you have to not only know the restaurant, but how it’s being prepared, and you have to rely on the the driver, or the app or the system to relay your special instructions to the restaurant.”So, I’d like to see more commitment from Uber Eats to the food allergy community on their platform.
Super Bowl commercials have become a significant aspect of the NFL competition, with some people tuning in solely for the commercials.
The Kansas City Chiefs will play the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas on Sunday, and more than 100 million people are anticipated to watch.
SOURCE – (BBC)
