Frozen food company McCain will feature a lesbian couple in its new advert after a gay couple in their last ad campaign received a slew of horrific abuse online.
The new campaign, Here’s To Love, will debut on TV today.
(McCain UK/YouTube)
It features real-life couples, including lesbian dancers Kimberly and Molly.
The advert opens making an important statement about what is ‘normal’ when it comes to love.
“Love doesn’t care about gender, where you’re from or what others may think. It won’t judge on ability or so-called disability,” it states.
The ad also features Andy and Tara, who is a disability rights campaigner who won a gold medal at the Paralympics.
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People compared the couple to paedophiles, labelled them as sick and accused them of neglecting their 19-month-old son Carter for not having a mother present in his life.
The couple conceived Carter using a surrogate.
The couple from Manchester told the Daily Record that they were horrified and saddened by the vicious comments directed at them online.
Lee, 35 and a customer relations manager, said that they had received dozens of hateful comments.
“One of the most hurtful compared us to perverts, saying ‘Whatever next, society accepting paedophiles?’ We are shocked this kind of attitude exists in the 21st century. We’re proud of our little family and we have nothing to be ashamed of.”
Gay couple in McCain’s last advertising campaign
As well as attacking Lee and Mat, critics slammed McCain.
One accused the manufacturer of “ramming” gay culture down viewers’ throats.
One person wrote: “Two daddies? How is that fair on the kids?”
However, many came to the defence of the couple.
One person said: “It honestly blows my mind how people can watch an advert that’s actually nice and wholesome and hate on it? why?”
Another added: “Stop being so concerned about peoples sexuality, or race, or whatever the issue is. Just… get on with your OWN life.
“Stop getting so worked up about stuff. Stop being so angry and offended about things that don’t matter. Just stop being in opposition to things.
“Be pro something. Be happy, be nice, be compassionate. You don’t need to be so angry and offended all the time.”
The nation-loved chip brand slammed the anti-LGBT rhetoric.
McCain marketing director Mark Hodge told the BBC: “We have received overwhelming support for the campaign, but we are disappointed that there’s a minority of individuals who have been verbally abusive to the real families that feature in our advertising.”
He added that the ad campaign was intended “to shine a light on and celebrate families of all shapes and sizes… and celebrate the diversity of UK families”.
