Christian attack group One Million Moms has set its sights on a new Uber Eats ad, denouncing what they say is a “liberal agenda.”
If you’re at all familiar with OMM, you already know this is going to be ridiculous. If you’re not, be prepared — this is ridiculous.
The ad campaign in question features Olympic gymnast Simone Biles pulling off a series of impressive flips before turning to the camera and describing what she’s going to eat for dinner. So far, so good. But Uber Eats had the audacity to cast Queer Eye star Jonathan Van Ness in the commercial as well.
JVN struts in, dressed similarly to Biles, also talks about dinner, and then Uber Eats bags get dropped off next to each of them. The celebrity hairstylist then also does a series of flips, the two have a quick innocuous conversation, and that’s the whole ad.
One Million Moms, the fragile little snowflakes that they are, took issue with JVN, who is gay and non-binary, existing in the public eye. Throughout the commercial, there is no mention of his sexuality, no mention of his gender, but him merely being present was enough to elicit a cry of outrage and a call for retraction.
The group — which is actually just one mother sitting behind a computer and begging people to sign petitions every week — claimed the issue is that Uber Eats cast “a cross-dresser.” But the argument could easily be made that Van Ness, wearing a form-fitting top and shiny shorts, isn’t dressed much differently than any male gymnast would be. Beyond that, it’s never been uncommon for men to be seen in women’s clothes in commercials or TV shows or movies throughout the years, usually played for laughs. And JVN’s appearance here, in Biles’ leotard, was also played for laughs — he just wasn’t the butt of the joke. And that, of course, is the problem.
“Instead of making audiences lose their appetite by glamorizing a LGBTQ lifestyle, Uber Eats should focus on what it does and remain neutral on controversial issues,” OMM writes. “For anyone curious or struggling with his or her sexual identity, watching someone prance around in the opposite sex’s clothing is not the answer.”
It’s telling that OMM’s idea of a company staying “neutral” is to exclude people who are known to be LGBTQ from any of their advertisements at all. Who’s got the agenda here?
Fortunately, both Van Ness’s pals and a bunch of strangers on the internet have his back here.
Fellow Queer Eye star Bobby Berk tweeted out that he “COULDN’T BE MORE PROUD” over One Million Moms setting their sites on Uber Eats for casting JVN.
But seriously… how can anyone have a problem with @jvn ? He exudes sunshine!
(Reposted to correct spelling). pic.twitter.com/FmwKFwQaha
— GingerZoe #BlackLivesMatter
(@ZoePerdue) October 30, 2020
I believe your daily gay agenda is missing alcohol consumption. Just trying to be helpful!
— RalphWiggumrocksmyworld
(@atypical30_a) October 30, 2020
— TMcG (@tracymcguire13) October 30, 2020
And at least one Twitter user pointed out the same thing it seems like we have to say every single time conservatives clutch their pearls over seeing any sort of LGBTQ representation in media — seeing queer people simply is not going to make your children queer any more than seeing straight people all over TV growing up made LGBTQ people straight.
if growing up watching nothing but herero couples on TV didn’t make me straight, having a gay man in a commercial isn’t going to make any children gay
these moms are just mad they can’t do the splits on a balance beam tbh
— spooky syd
(@sydisokay) October 30, 2020
Better luck next time, One Million Moms! Better yet, just quit while you’re so, so, so behind.
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