More than 26,000 people have signed a petition protesting Cadbury’s Creme Egg advert, which features two men kissing.
The petition’s creator claimed that the advert’s “sexualised content” was offensive to Christians, and that casting two men in the advert was a way of evading criticism by hiding “under cover of LGBT rights”.
The petition, hosted on CitizenGo, is calling for the advert to be removed.
Its description reads: “By choosing to feature a same-sex couple, Cadbury’s are clearly hoping to cause controversy and escape criticism, by claiming that any objections must be rooted in ‘homophobia’, but members of the LGBT community have also expressed their dislike of this campaign.”
It continues: “Cadbury’s are well aware of the religious significance of Easter. Therefore, they are trying to cause gratuitous offence to members of the Christian community during the most important feast in their calendar.”
Many others praised Cadbury’s advert for its inclusivity and LGBTQ representation when it was first released last month.
Despite the petition author’s claim that the protest was rooted in concerns about sexualised content rather than anti-LGBTQ sentiment, many called out those behind the petition for homophobia.
One Twitter user wrote: “Happy Friday – but not to the 20,000 homophobes have signed a petition to get rid of the new creme egg ad. What’s laughable is the fact that people are actually offended by two men sharing a f***ing creme egg. Get a grip”.
Another tweeted: “25,000 people actually signed a petition to have the Cadbury’s creme egg ad cancelled. All I can say is, after seeing an advert that embraces love, I’ve never wanted a creme egg more”.
25,000 people actually signed a petition to have the Cadbury’s creme egg ad cancelled. All I can say is, after seeing an advert that embraces love, I’ve never wanted a creme egg more
— Danielle ✨ (@DanC887) February 19, 2021
Happy Friday – but not to the 20,000 homophobes have signed a petition to get rid of the new creme egg ad. What’s laughable is the fact that people are actually offended by two men sharing a fucking creme egg. Get a grip
— Kirsty (@aynotey) February 19, 2021
A counter-petition has been published on Change.org urging Cadbury not to remove the petition and to “amplify” it. It so far has over 3,000 signatures.
The petition’s creator Simon Harris said he wants Cadbury to “go big” and broadcast the advert on “those giant screens in Piccadilly Circus” or put it on the side of “every bus in Britain”.
When contacted by The Independent, a spokesperson for Cadbury said it was proud of the advert and its message of inclusion.
The spokesperson said: “Cadbury has always been a progressive brand that spreads a message of inclusion, whether it is through its products or brand campaigns. We are proud of our Golden Goobilee advert which celebrates the many ways that everyone can enjoy a Cadbury Creme Egg. To illustrate this and showcase the joy our products bring, a clip of a real life couple sharing a Cadbury Creme Egg was included in the advert.”
*story by The Independent
