Gap Holiday Ad Draws Protest
A television ad for Gap is drawing criticism and calls for a boycott from a Christian group.
Advertisers have a tricky job this time of year. Coming up with holiday ads that are inclusive and non-offensive to all faiths is not an easy task. When Gap came up with their current "Go Ho Ho" television ads, they likely thought that they had managed to walk that line successfully. But the ad, in which young beautiful people decked out in festive Gap clothes dance around and chant, has drawn criticism not for excluding any faith, but for the lighthearted way in which they are included.
The American Family Association (AFA) is calling for a two-month boycott of Gap and its brands Old Navy and Banana Republic because they say the Gap ads are making fun of religion. At issue are the words the actors chant in the spot: "Go Christmas, go Hanukkah, go Kwanzaa, go Solstice. . . . Do whatever you wannukkah and to all a cheery night."
The AFA is no stranger to Gap boycotts. Last year, the group urged a similar boycott in protest of Gap ads that failed to mention the word "Christmas." On their Web site, the AFA credits that boycott for pressuring Gap into including the word this year, but finds fault with the "dismissive and disrespectful" way they went about it.
For their part, Gap remains unmoved, telling Brand Week that the company "is and has always been an inclusive, accessible brand in which everyone can participate and we embrace diversity across all of our customers, and more importantly respect their beliefs as individuals... We focus our marketing on the joys of the holiday season as a whole."
We've noticed those Gap ads, too. The intent to playfully include all faiths is so painfully obvious that we think the ads are trying just a little too hard. We are more annoyed than offended. What about you?
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Sno man,11-26-2009, 10:51PM
This is the most ridiculous thing I've heard in along time! The AFA needs to get a life and find some REAL issues to complain about!
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Lela Campbell,12-18-2009, 4:31PM
I can honestly say I believe the people who are complaining are actually not Christians at all but people that want us to do away with all information on anything public that has to do with religion...How sad our country has become that we sit and criticize a cute commercial and I am a christian....Stop complaining and go to church....you know God's home......Because without God....we have nothing.....
Thanks,
Lela
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Tara E,12-18-2009, 6:44PM
WOW, how sad. I am a Christian, and I believe in God, but in no way do I find the ad offensive. Come on people.....................time to lighten up. I find a lot more stuff offensive on TV!!!
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Jill,12-22-2009, 3:22PM
The controversy over this commercial is ridiculous. It may be offensive to some people, but it was not intentionally meant to be offensive to those people. Why would GAP purposely want to cause controversy? In the long run, it would only negatively affect their business sales. No harm meant by GAP.
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Krianne,12-22-2009, 5:15PM
HONESTLY- one would have to be bored out of thier skull and without purpose on this earth in order to sufficiently put forth the effort required to find the issues the AFA seems to find. WATCH THE NEWS. Read up on current events. There is a lot more wrong with the world than The Gap "nonchalantly" including several religions within their commercial rather the one, obvious and traditional religion behind the holiday. The only reason for their "insensativity" in the first place was to appease the overly sensative jerk off's who would have complained over the absence of the diverse acknowledgements had they not been present in the commercial. Seriously get over it, and have a MERRY F-ING CHRISTMAS.
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Sibyl,12-23-2009, 10:53AM
The ads are fun. I love the ones with the young girls.
Reminds me of my daughters thirty years ago.
Everybody chill, and enjoy the Season.
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vinnie,12-23-2009, 12:05PM
what happened to our sense of humor. I long for the days when there was not some fanatic complaining about hurt feelings over somethign so benign. Lightenup . It is good and healty to laugh at yourself every now and then. It is also ok if others laugh along.
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alexa,12-23-2009, 12:51PM
While the commercial itself isn't all that great it's in no way offensive. When are people going to learn that tolerating and making room for other religions doesn't mean Christianity is going to die out. I think that is the AFA's biggest fear. I'm a Christian but I have no problem with this commercial including other religions' holidays here. If they want to make a big deal about something how about trying to get some of this garbage off tv. What about shows basically idolizing teen mothers, drugs,violence and casual sex. Shouldn't that be a bigger concern than this commercial?
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