Cheerios commercial featuring interracial family draws harsh comments

Summary

A Cheerios advertisement featuring an interracial couple and their mixed-race child has sparked significant controversy, primarily due to the racial composition of the family rather than the product itself. The ad, which portrays a young girl asking her white mother about Cheerios and her black father covered in the cereal, received backlash online, leading General Mills to disable YouTube comments. Despite the negative responses, experts argue that this reflects a small, vocal minority and that the ad represents modern reality, hoping that other companies won't shy away from showcasing diverse families.

Takeaways

• 😀 The new Cheerios ad features an interracial couple and their mixed-race child.
• 😀 The controversy surrounding the ad is not about the product but the family depicted in it.
• 😀 The commercial shows a curly-haired girl asking her white mother about Cheerios, followed by her black father humorously covered in Cheerios.
• 😀 The ad sparked significant negative reactions, particularly on social media, with comments involving racial hatred and offensive references.
• 😀 Due to the backlash, General Mills disabled all comments on the YouTube video of the ad.
• 😀 Experts, like Professor Saj Vary, expressed surprise at the intense reactions, emphasizing that interracial families are common in society.
• 😀 Vary suggests the strong emotions might be linked to the sight of a mixed-race child, despite interracial marriage being legal for decades.
• 😀 The backlash is attributed to a small portion of society, which doesn't represent the wider audience General Mills is targeting.
• 😀 General Mills defended the ad, stating they celebrate all kinds of families and have received positive responses from many consumers.
• 😀 General Mills posted the full ad on their website, encouraging viewers to share their thoughts under the comments section.

Q & A

What sparked the controversy surrounding the new Cheerios advertisement?

The controversy stemmed from the interracial family depicted in the ad, specifically featuring a white mother, black father, and their mixed-race child.

What is the main message conveyed in the Cheerios commercial?

The ad shows a mixed-race family with a young girl asking her mother about Cheerios, followed by a playful moment with her father, ending on a positive note about family love and healthy eating.

Why did the backlash surrounding the ad become so intense?

The backlash was largely due to the racial dynamics of the family depicted, with some viewers expressing negative reactions to the representation of an interracial couple and their child.

How did General Mills respond to the negative feedback?

General Mills disabled all comments on the YouTube video due to the extreme negativity, which included offensive comments and references to racial genocide.

What role does the child’s race play in the backlash?

The mixed-race child, specifically, may have triggered strong emotional reactions from some viewers, as discussed by Professor Saj Vary.

How long has interracial marriage been legal in the United States, according to the script?

Interracial marriage has been legal for decades, as mentioned in the script, with the legal precedent dating back to the 1967 Loving v. Virginia case.

What is Professor Saj Vary's perspective on the ad and its critics?

Professor Vary expressed confusion over the objections to the ad and emphasized that the depiction of a biracial family reflects reality, which he believes should be embraced despite the small segment of society that rejects it.

How did General Mills emphasize the diversity of families in their ad campaign?

General Mills stated that they celebrate all kinds of families, as reflected in the ad, which showcases an interracial family and reinforces the message of inclusivity.

What did General Mills highlight in their statement regarding the ad's reception?

They pointed out that while the ad had sparked some negative reactions, many consumers responded positively, appreciating the diversity represented in the commercial.

Why did General Mills post the full ad on their website?

General Mills posted the full ad on their website to encourage viewers to share their thoughts and foster a more open discussion about the content and its representation of diverse families.