Gay folks in Brazil have been in a tizzy about a Doritos commercial that they call homophobic. The ad features four men driving in a car together peacefully until one of them breaks out into the choreography for The Village People's "YMCA".
After his friends' awkward reception, a bag of Doritos is slapped over the kid's face and an announcer declares, "Wanna share something with your friends? Share a bag of Doritos." PepsiCo claimed that they used the song because it was "dated and fun", but some gay rights activists feel that the commercial implies that one shouldn't come out to their friends.
Though PepsiCo has recently donated $500,000 each to the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and Parents, Families, & Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), they also received mixed reviews in the past for one of their Pepsi Max ads. The spot featured two guys encouraging their scruffy pal to make a move on someone across the room, only to look horrified and confused when they realize that the object of their friend's lust was another man.
PepsiCo's heart is in the right place, but perhaps they need to hire a gay consultant to get the message across in a more appropriate fashion?
– Dewitt
Not in the least. It was hilarious.
I am Brazilian and yes, I find this commercial to be totally homophobic. I think it`s time people stop using “funny” innuendos/stereotypes to have fun at the expense of gay people. This is so tiresome.
i loved it hehehe
Brazilians are retarded.
Seriously – I cannot believe anyone would find this homophobic, as it is not in the least! It’s merely a group of young men, in a car, with one acting goofy. This is what college-aged kids do. There aren’t any references to sexuality whatsoever. It’s a strange commercial, sure, but not in least bit offensive.
To all the people taking offense in this, PLEASE – get over yourselves. Not everything is all about YOU.
I am unsure. I think I need to have sex with a hunky Brazilian man so that I can get a feel for Brazilian culture. Then I might have a better idea of whether or not this is homophobic. Until then, it would be unfair for me to render an opinion. I would really really like to render an opinion so any hunky Brazilian guys that would like to help me out can contact Manhunt. Manhunt, please forward the responses of any hunky Brazilian men to me so that I might begin to formulate a more informed response.
I have to agree with the other posters. To me, the guy singing YMCA is like busting into “Mr. Roboto” – everyone does it in secret, but in public it is funny and somewhat embarrassing. The idea that it’s homophobic means that the millions of drunk people dancing to the song at Christmas parties and weddings must all be queer. A pretty bizarre assumption.
Now if he was singing “You’re Beautiful” by James Blount, it would be an obvious slam against queers, since there is no song gayer than that piece of crap (with the possible exception of Enrique’s “Hero”).
Brazilians apparently put a lot of faith in stereotyping if doing the moves to ‘YMCA’=coming out to them.
A car with four men (although three aren’t dancing) LISTENING to The Village People and ONE of them might be gay?