infoMania | August 02, 2010 | Comment on this video (68)

That's Gay: Sissy Commercials

bryan_safi
Homophobic commercials for brands like Old Spice, Miller Lite, and even the Colorado National Speedway.

That's Gay is a recurring segment on the weekly television show infoMania. In each episode of That's Gay, Bryan Safi explores gay issues and stereotypes as they are portrayed by the clueless media. For more Bryan visit http://current.com/groups/thats-gay/ and Current TV.

infoMania is a half-hour satirical news show that airs on Current TV. The show puts a comedic spin on the 24-hour chaos and information overload brought about by the constant bombardment of the media. Hosted by Conor Knighton and co-starring Brett Erlich, Erin Gibson, Ben Hoffman, Bryan Safi and Sergio Cilli, the show airs on Thursdays at 10/9c on Current TV.
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    Current TV,  Comedy,  Funny,  Gay,  14 more
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    bryan_safi Starring, bryan_safi Writer, nprocter Producer, more
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68 comments // That's Gay: Sissy Commercials // Video

  • Most
    • 0
      Most  

    • Do you mind if I say that I am gay, I like Old Spice and I like the guy in the towel too? Does that make me a traitor? I think the ads are funny too!

    • 2 years ago
  • checarina
    • +1
      checarina  

    • I'm seriously disturbed by how many people in the comments don't seem to get that misogyny and homophobia are part and parcel of the same basic set of fears. Much of the homophobia in our society can be DIRECTLY TRACED to misogyny; you can't simply extricate them from each other, and certainly not in these ads. You seriously think that if Bryan Safi hadn't called these ads homophobic, the effeminate = gay stereotype wouldn't be evoked? The majority of people watching these ads are going to make that connection, the ad designers know that, and it's clearly what they were going for.

      Protip: policing people's gender expression (don't be a sissy man) and policing the gender-orientation of their sexuality (don't be gay) are part of the same package!

      On a side note, I think the Old Spice ads are funny; I agree with some of the other commenters that I think they're deliberately over-the-top and satirical of macho-ness. But reasonable people can and do disagree.

    • 2 years ago
  • citybuilder
  • daseekah
  • PhatNick
  • Seth_Jones
    • -2
      Seth_Jones  

    • I think someone's being a little oversensitive. Most of those ads were funny and not in the least discriminatory. Perhaps we need to review "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" if we're too continue to be taken seriously in the future.

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  

    • @randall01 mostly... "...putting forth the idea that "macho" is what should be desired." wrong... they're NOT saying you SHOULD be macho or anything, they're saying that IF macho is what you want, THEN our product is for you. this doesn't mean that everyone SHOULD buy it, nor does it mean that everyone SHOULD be macho.

    • 2 years ago
  • fernweher
    • 0
      fernweher  

    • I used to have a gay boyfriend who TOTALLY loved the Old Spice Guy. He would quote those commericals and talk about him like once every month at least.

    • 2 years ago
  • jramirez1982
    • 0
      jramirez1982  

    • I don't understand how these commercials can be misconstrued as homophobic or "sissy," they clearly have a comedic twist and should taken for just that, comedic value. If anything, the gay culture is all but too familiar with criticizing anyone and everyone (I know because I'm gay, ask anyone in San Francisco). If gay people can't look past the stereotypical "comedic" play write jokes, then who can??????

    • 2 years ago
  • PhatNick
  • leotardjesus
  • Jackstowne
    • +3
      Jackstowne  

    • The Ultimate "Man" Rule: there is no greater evil than being born a girl. Thus, we must condemn all vice as part of "femaleness" itself (see: use of the slur b**ch as the preferred insult of people everwhere).

      Sad, but true. Misogynistic bigotry feeds into all this homophobic foolishness. Hell, even us straight men are subjected to this "Man" bullsh**.

    • 2 years ago
  • Planck
    • 0
      Planck  
    • Jackstowne:

      Good insight! All part of the divide and conquer built into our religions. Paulo Freire does it well. How best to cut off half the talents of the people, and the combined talent of all together regardless sexuality. The misgynist religions started fall of Egyptian Empire and they've done a lot of damage.

      They're working against Gays in Uganda now funded by our guys, and subtly here, like these videos show. The next one he did on Focus on the Family is even better!

      History shows during Fascist times Italy/Germany they amp this up to make young men more tough and hankering for fighting war, or brown shirting it against those "weaker" than themselves who threaten the military might i.e. liberals, progressives, intellectuals, pacifists, mystics - thoughtful concerned educated people who would challenge the right-wing and dissent as is their right according to this Constitution even if not interpreted right now by Roberts, Alito, Scalia, and Thomas for a necessary fourth vote!

      Just more ways to terrorize the population so they cower to the hidden powers that be orchestrating it all through their Politicians they push into office, their Generals, their media, Pundits, Preachers, blah blah blah. So funny how this all written into Judeo-Christianity??? Just in case we need to amp up some of these random teachings. Hmmm. Worth considering.

      The system will never look the same way twice, but it reforms itself to stay hidden and to stay effective for the changing times! George Carlin said, "when Fascism comes to America it will be smiles, tans, designer tshirts, body beautiful..." Don't look for brownshirts for the clue things are off the rails!

    • 2 years ago
  • CanadianBacon
    • +2
      CanadianBacon  

    • Some of these ads were so violent/disgustingly regressive that this is the only That's Gay I can't re-watch. Cuz it makes me sad. But big kudos to Bryan.

    • 2 years ago
  • Planck
    • -1
      Planck  

    • This advertisers are:

      Old Spice = P&G
      Brut = Helen of Troy
      Budlight = Anheiser-Busch
      Arby's = Wendy's/Arby's Group headquartered Sandy Springs, GA
      Snickers = Mars
      Miller Light and Milwaukee's best light = MillerCoors
      Colorado Speedway is NASCAR endorsed

      They make lots of other products to boycott.

      Here are the Board directors and all their other affiliated companies. You will be surprised. They need to be outed for the homophobic social engineering they're doing through their ad budgets.

      Anheuser-Busch board (look at how many military contractors who make money off our taxes)

      August A. Busch III, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
      Carlos Fernandez G., Grupo Modelo, S.A. de C.V.;
      James J. Forese, IKON Office Solutions, Inc., Thayer Capital Partners
      John E. Jacob, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
      James R. Jones, Former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico; Manatt Jones Global Strategies, LLC, GlobeRanger Corporation
      Charles F. Knight, Emerson Electric Co.;
      Vernon R. Loucks Jr., The Aethena Group, LLC,
      Vilma S. Martinez, Tolles & Olson, LLP;
      William Porter Payne, Gleacher Partners, LLC,
      Joyce M. Roché, Girls Incorporated,
      Henry Hugh Shelton, Former Chairman – Joint Chiefs of Staff; M.I.C. Industries
      Patrick T. Stokes, Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc.
      Andrew C. Taylor, Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company; an international car
      Douglas A. Warner III
      Former Chairman of the Board –J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
      Edward E. Whitacre Jr, AT&T Inc.;

      MillerCoors

      PETER H. COORS, Molson Coors Brewing Company
      PETER SWINBURN, Molson Coors Brewing Company
      SAMUEL WALKER, Molson Coors Brewing Company
      RALPH HARGROW, Molson Coors Brewing Company
      STEWART GLENDINNING, Molson Coors Brewing Company
      GRAHAM MACKAY, SABMiller plc
      MALCOLM WYMAN, SABMiller plc
      SUE CLARK, SABMiller plc
      NICK FELL, SABMiller plc
      TONY VAN KALINGEN, SABMiller plc

      P&G Board (diddo military, and aerospace, telecommunications, politics, finance)

      Kenneth I. Chenault, American Express Company
      Scott D. Cook, Intuit Inc.
      Rajat K. Gupta, McKinsey & Company, American Airlines, Genpact, Ltd., The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Harman International Industries, Inc. and Sberbank.
      A.G. Lafley, P&G, General Electric Company
      Charles R. Lee, Verizon Communications Inc, DIRECTV Group, Inc., Marathon Oil Corporation, United Technologies Corporation and U.S. Steel Corporation.
      Lynn M. Martin, Northwestern University, AT&T Inc., Ryder System, Inc., Dreyfus Funds and Constellation Energy Group, Inc.
      Robert A. McDonald, P&G, Xerox Corporation
      W. James McNerney, Jr., The Boeing Company
      Johnathan A. Rodgers, TV One, LLC
      Ralph Snyderman, M.D., Duke University, Targacept, Inc., New Enterprise Associates.
      Mary Agnes Wilderotter, Frontier Communications Corporation, Xerox Corporation, Yahoo! Inc.
      Patricia A. Woertz, Archer Daniels Midland Company (agricultural processors of oilseeds, corn, wheat and cocoa).
      Ernesto Zedillo, Former President of Mexico, Yale University, Alcoa Inc.
      Margaret C. Whitman, eBay Inc.

      Wendy's Board

      Nelson Peltz, Trian Fund Management, L.P.
      Peter W. May, Trian Fund Management, L.P.
      Clive Chajet, Chajet Consultancy, L.L.C.
      Edward P. Garden, Trian Fund Management, L.P.
      Janet Hill, Alexander & Associates, Inc.
      Joseph A. Levato, Triarc Companies, Inc.
      J. Randolph Lewis, Walgreen Co.
      Peter H. Rothschild, Daroth Capital, L.L.C.
      David E. Schwab II, Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, P.C.
      David E. Schwab II, Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman, P.C.
      Jack G. Wasserman, Attorney-at-Law

      Helen of Troy BOD

      Gerald J. Rubin
      Gary B. Abromovitz
      Byron H. Rubin
      Stanlee N. Rubin
      John Butterworth
      Timothy F. Meeker
      Darren Woody
      Adolpho R. Telles

    • 2 years ago
  • dariusvons
  • Planck
    • 0
      Planck  
    • dariusvons:

      Because these are the people behind these companies. Look how many on the Military Industrial dime.

      These are the people that need outing if we're gonna' change anything around here. Like the Koch Brothers are getting it this week.

      We need to know who these people are, how they operate, so we can collectively shut them down!

      Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, Bill O'Reilly, Rand Paul are "symptoms" of a system that starts and ends with the Supreme Court that allow this to go on and on and on under our very noses, cause these BOD people own and control this Country, pay the Pols, pay the 501c3s, pay for the ads surrounding our brains...pay university professor chairs...in econ, polisci, soc, journalism departments...the list goes on and on.

      That's why I put it there. We need to see who these people in front of cameras, holding cameras, and behind camera are shilling for! We need to look behind the curtains, precisely where the Wizard told us to "pay no attention"!!!

      Hope that's cool! Let's do it!

    • 2 years ago
  • Coolie20
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  

    • this is like saying that soap commercials (almost exclusively aimed at women) are misandristic.

      it's called marketing. just as I wouldn't make ads to sell barbies to men, but rather, I'd make ads to the ACTUAL consumers being little girls.

      simply put, how many gay men use brut cologne? really?

      also, I loved that video on Jonny Weir being "too gay for ice skating", great stuff!

    • 2 years ago
  • bc_f
  • dariusvons
    • 0
      dariusvons  
    • bc_f:

      ok, sure, agreed.... I think that ANY scent product is a gay product, sort of like how any man who dresses like a cowboy is either gay or in the closet because there are no real cowboys any more and that makes a cowboys attire a costume, and pretty much only GAY men wear costumes on any day OTHER than halloween. half joking.

    • 2 years ago
  • vvfsfan
  • Tibi_Buru
    • -5
      Tibi_Buru  

    • It is NOT ANTY GAY its anty SISY witch gay want to become. Women are womem and Men are MEN. But what gays are, you are idiots. this video proves it and your gay parade. Do you see lesbians underdressed and sucking face on the street? NO. I say they are civilised and actualy sane. Look at it this way u say don't discriminate but u are men and act like sissies u would have a lot less problems if u act like men i mean 50 percent less and if u dont get out in the street dressed with womens clothes there would go another 40 percent. Get it?
      u gays act insane thats where most of your problems come from i guarantee u.

    • 2 years ago
  • global001
    • 0
      global001  
    • Tibi_Buru:

      this video proves that al gay men are idiots? wow I guess any video showing a straight man in poor light proves that very straight man is an idiot as well. lol. no, I think its just you.

    • 2 years ago
  • dickdaly
    • -1
      dickdaly  

    • that old spice commercial can actually be directed to gay men. i'm pretty sure many gay dudes love that commercial and wish their man looked like the old spice guy.

      side note: when i catch my girl watching that commercial, i punch her in the face really hard. cheating whore!

    • 2 years ago
  • global001
    • 0
      global001  

    • They don't mention gay men they mention sissies and effeminate men which Bryan is as well as being a gay man.

      There was irony in a some ads like the lite beer one where it implies he is a man if he takes off his skirt and 'cares about the taste'. Traditionally anyone who cared about the taste or even drank lite beer was a sissy, now they are the man. lol.

      Advertisers are still using the technique of identifying with masculinity promote and sell their products but the boundaries are now blurred and even turned on their heads. The snickers ad is so camp and tongue in cheek itself that it could be argued that it parodies itself.

    • 2 years ago
  • petarro
    • -4
      petarro  

    • bla bla bla bla... Get over it. The commercials are for straights not for Gay. We don't classify the gay commercials, so don't calsify the straight!

    • 2 years ago
  • jeanest
  • jeanest
    • -7
      jeanest  
    • jeanest:

      you know i had to think about it.. you mean to tell me byan safi can talk about all the sucking and gay sex he wants too but my comment gets deleted for using the very same words he uses in his segment... thats not right but i see what yall are really about kool

    • 2 years ago
  • flyingkick
    • +2
      flyingkick  
    • jeanest:

      Let me explain it to you.
      You called Bryan Safi a bitch.
      That's a personal attack.
      Personal attacks are against the Terms of Service you agreed to when you created a Current account.

    • 2 years ago
  • zoloftkid
    • 0
      zoloftkid  

    • First, that Old Spice ad is awesome.
      Second, most of those commercials are dumb, that's true. Great collection.
      Third, these commercials are not homophobic. They don't make any mention of being gay or attracted to men. In fact, Bryan is the one who seems to be making a generalization that gay men are feminine.

    • 2 years ago
  • global001
    • 0
      global001  
    • zoloftkid:

      I kinda agree. They don't mention gay men they mention sissies and effeminate men which Bryan is as well as being a gay man.

      There was irony in a some ads like the lite beer one where it implies he is a man if he takes off his skirt and 'cares about the taste'. Traditionally anyone who cared about the taste or even drank lite beer was a sissy, now they are the man. lol.

      Advertisers are still using the technique of identifying with masculinity promote and sell their products but the boundaries are now blurred and even turned on their heads. The snickers ad is so camp in itself that it could be argued that it parodies itself.

    • 2 years ago
  • Daena_Smith
    • 0
      Daena_Smith  

    • Is it just me, or did MR. T call that white guy "CRACKER" at 2:39..("Do it again cracker") Hmmm wonder how racist it would be if the "N" word was used....

    • 2 years ago
  • Billy_Goodreasonnews
  • randallr01
    • +7
      randallr01  
    • Billy_Goodreasonnews:

      Not true. It's still a derogatory term based on the color of his skin. Sure, it's not as loaded and has less history, but "growing up" is not something that Daena_Smith needs to do just for pointing that out.

      The term "cracker" is inappropriate.

    • 2 years ago
  • Daena_Smith
    • 0
      Daena_Smith  
    • Billy_Goodreasonnews:

      Personally, if someone called me a "cracker" I would laugh. I find the term actually funny, along with "casper" and whatever else. I did find it rather IRONIC that the term was used none the less. Just as much I find it IRONIC that there is BET tv or EBONY magazine, but WHITE tv or IVORY magazine is nonexistent. I'm just tired of all the IRONIC politically correctness there is that is unequal to anyone or anything. And it sounds like you cannot even discuss anything without offending someone as well

    • 2 years ago
  • Atalanda_Cameron
  • Daena_Smith
    • 0
      Daena_Smith  
    • Atalanda_Cameron:

      Right, I was just pointing out the irony in it. Not saying the tv station or magazine (or anything like those) shouldn't exist, but you have to admit, if the shoe was on the other foot there would be a lot of upset people.

    • 2 years ago
  • versasrev
  • Billy_Goodreasonnews
    • +1
      Billy_Goodreasonnews  
    • versasrev:

      I agree that that's probably what the Old Spice commercial is about, but I just hate it so much that I'm glad anybody is talking smack on it.

      I understand that Tim & Eric from Adult Swim created it, but I feel like it's callously designed to be a zany internet hit, devaluing the unique nature of popular internet videos and handing another avenue of human creativity over to major corporations.

    • 2 years ago
  • raggyrow
  • randallr01
  • spstellar
    • +4
      spstellar  

    • actually advertisers try to find messages that resonate with the target audience. i was reading that due to the recession and mortgage crisis, people feel like they have less control of their lives, they're earning less money, lost a lot of money from their savings, etc, so a lot of men feel emasculated as a result. this makes men are more likely to respond positively to messages / ads / products that make them feel more manly, hence these ads. i'm not saying i agree with this approach or mentality, but i think that's what's happening.

    • 2 years ago
  • Almibry
  • thoughtscience
  • Almibry
  • bike10
  • EmperorThan
  • EmperorThan
  • Perplexed_Rapture
  • TheeMaverick
  • jeanest
    • jeanest  
    • This comment was removed as a violation of community guidelines.
  • flyingkick
  • jeanest
  • Pedroptz
    • -6
      Pedroptz  

    • What's the problem with "commercials"? They don't reflect society, brands just want ways to get our attention and making exaggerated stereotypes is one of them.

    • 2 years ago
  • bc_f
  • Pedroptz
    • 0
      Pedroptz  
    • bc_f:

      They only work if you are an uneducated person and out of touch with reality, and a little ignorant too, but I like to think that at least the majority of the society is not like that.

    • 2 years ago
  • vvfsfan
  • Quixim
    • -7
      Quixim  

    • None of the Old Spice ads say anything about gay people WHATSOEVER. They just portray a parody of masculinity. The fact that you assume that "Ladies' scented body wash" means "gay people" is because you're the one stereotyping that as to mean gay. If all you do is try and stretch things into the persecution of gays, you'll see it everywhere.

    • 2 years ago
  • randallr01
    • +7
      randallr01  
    • Quixim:

      Nowhere did he imply that this is a form of persecution. But he IS making fun of the commercials for putting forth the idea that "macho" is what should be desired. It's chauvinism. It's enforcement of gender roles. The commercials imply that anything but traditional "manliness" is unworthy.

      This is the current trend in advertising. But why? Why trade in the metrosexual? Why NOT be a "sissy?"

      I suppose males are so stupid as a group that they need to be told how to act. They can't just be individuals who are secure in their own skin, no matter who they are. Or at least this is what advertising trends would have us believe.

    • 2 years ago
  • jeanest
  • Quixim
    • -3
      Quixim  
    • randallr01:

      That's just 'cos it's advertising. Advertising works singly on the idea that the product they're selling is something that you need. And for something that's a different version of something already there (Why use this body wash when you can use other kinds?), they have to prove why theirs is better. This is accomplished by the old spice ads in a few ways. One: they create the image of the handsome masculine man and try and imply you can be more like him with the product. This is basically a celebrity endorsement, but with a created celebrity (See the World's Most Interesting Man from that beer or whatever).

      Second, they're damn funny ads, especially the youtube blitz. I use old spice anyway, but I was tempted to pick up their body wash (I currently use very ladies' scented body wash) solely to reward them for such a great advertising campaign. I don't care how crass the advertising is, it's incredibly entertaining in its own right.

      We're being told to act like this because that's how advertising works. It tells you in no uncertain terms to buy their product because its the best product on the market. I think you're looking too far into this in attempt to be offended.

    • 2 years ago
  • flyingkick
    • +9
      flyingkick  

    • These ads aren't homophobic, their misogynist.
      Not all gays are effeminate. I mean, have you ever actually walked down Castro St? It's one giant, throbbing, collective muscle of masculinity. There's more testosterone in the Castro than in AT&T park on game day.

      At no point are these advertisers making fun of man love. Think about it- guys having tea, guy in a skirt- those things aren't gay, they're girly. It's an attack on women and effeminate men. There are plenty of effeminate men who aren't gay. Still a messed up ad campaign though.

      Also, I don't think you should include Old Spice in that group of machismo advertisers. Old Spice ads are clearly tongue and cheek- poking fun at masculinity while at the same time promoting it.

    • 2 years ago
  • toyotabedzrock
  • flyingkick
  • global001
  • ScottyT
    • +1
      ScottyT  

    • Given that the economy has totally crapped out, I think some more gay biker/Road Warrior masculine commercials are needed.

    • 2 years ago
  • zombinfected
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