After years of beer, broads and other symbols of bro' life, a gay dating web site submitted its first Super Bowl ad. Guess what? CBS flat out rejected the spot, which is now sparking a media storm of controversy. Is it homophobia or did ManCrunch.com skillfully maneuver its way to national attention without ever having the ad air on network television?
So, a gay dating Web site offers up an ad for the Super Bowl, right? The ad, which features a couple of friends watching the game, hits its high point when the male pair engage in a heavy lip lock as another friend looks on rather surprised. Given the state of today's advertising, it is pretty tame stuff. But with anti-homosexual agendas on the rise, it comes as no surprise that CBS, which will broadcast the Super Bowl, rejected the ad submitted by ManCrunch.com.
"After reviewing the ad, which is entirely commercial in nature, our standards and practices department decided not to accept this particular spot," said CBS spokeswoman Shannon Jacobs. "We are always open to working with a client on alternative submissions."
CBS' decision over the ManCrunch ad, like the clip itself, is already starting to burn through the media blogosphere. Meanwhile, the Toronto-based dating site has already offered its own response to the press.
"It's straight-up discrimination," said Elissa Buchter, spokesperson for ManCrunch.
Buchter has since offered up to CNNMoney a copy of the rejection letter sent by CBS, which stated the ad "is not within the Network's broadcast standards for Super Bowl Sunday." Meanwhile, the network has not commented further on the topic of discrimination.
Pundits are arguing that broadcast standards on Super Bowl advertising have been rather suspect in recent years. Meanwhile, the rejection of the spot is generating plenty of play, as well as strong opinions, both pro and con. Is it a victim of a homophobic agenda or a skillful media play by ManCrunch to solicit plenty of free advertising?
In truth, the ad is just a lightly humorous take on the dating website phenomenon. If anything, Match.com and its competitors really should have been there first. Even more, the ad is a marked improvement over the infamous 900 party connection phone ads that still run on late night TV.
However, with the embattled state of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights now a key part of the national forum, the CBS-ManCrunch situation only raises another important question. Despite the gains made by the GLBT community, particularly in popular culture, will it ever be possible for such an ad to gain acceptance by the mainstream media without such a polarizing effect?
Examiner readers, view the ad below and speak your mind.
Keep reading the Personalities page on Examiner.com for the latest celebrity and industry news.
Comments
man-crunch has probably got more publicity for their being denied than they would have gotten if they actually got their ad on the air and thats without the 50 million dollar investment for a 30 second commercial.
That isn't what matters here. The fact is, CBS is displaying its intolerant views in more ways than this. If it was simply a question of controversy, one would assume they would have also denied the anti-abortion ad featuring Tim Tebow. They are displaying their pro-Christian leanings and it is completely inexcusable in this day and age to so blatantly discriminate against groups of people for anything that is so accepted and prevalent among their viewers.
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!