Watch: Gillette takes on toxic masculinity in new ad for the #MeToo era
The campaign, which asks men to “shave their toxic masculinity”, has generated debate and sparked backlash from several of the brand’s consumers.
After years of advertising with the tagline “the best a man can get”, personal care products brand Gillette is now encouraging its male consumers to do better.
A new ad campaign by the brand reflects the MeToo era and tackles toxic masculinity, bullying and sexism. The video features a number of news clips about the #MeToo movement and scenes of men bullying and harassing women, with a voiceover asking, “is this the best a man can get?”
The video, called “We Believe”, was created by the brand’s ad agency Grey and directed by Kim Gehrig. It has generated heavy debate online, with some social media users claiming that it shames men and accusing the brand of virtue signalling. Some even objected to the advertisement because it was directed by a woman.
I've used @Gillette razors my entire adult life but this absurd virtue-signalling PC guff may drive me away to a company less eager to fuel the current pathetic global assault on masculinity.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) January 14, 2019
Let boys be damn boys.
Let men be damn men. https://t.co/Hm66OD5lA4
We don’t need politics with our shave gel. pic.twitter.com/erZowlhdz8
— ART TAVANA (@arttavana) January 14, 2019
This pathetic virtue signalling trash from @Gillette is unintentionally hilarious. Even features a Young Turks nutbag 🤦🏽♀️ #EpicFail https://t.co/djAs7JMjF5
— Rita Panahi (@RitaPanahi) January 14, 2019
A shaving ad written by pink-haired feminist scolds is about as effective as a tampon ad written by middle aged men.
— Ezra Levant 🍁 (@ezralevant) January 14, 2019
I hope Gillette's smear gets the same market response as Dick's Sporting Goods when they turned against their customers.
Count this 30-year customer out. https://t.co/cwIINzU2Su
But there were also many who appreciated the campaign, pointing out that the backlash was evidence enough that it is a necessary conversation to have.
This is Golden. Well done @Gillette https://t.co/ChlnIIFTih
— Phoebe Tonkin (@1PhoebeJTonkin) January 15, 2019
Gillete: *showing a video about how men can and should be better*
— J. D. Wiser (@jd_wiser) January 14, 2019
Men: *actively proving them right*
THIS is how you use your brand. THIS is how you engage with your audience. Gillette being aware of mostly having a male audience and using their influence as a global brand to make a change for the better. other companies take notes pic.twitter.com/KCdxKDLji0
— laq (@spidervesre) January 15, 2019
Meanwhile Gillette, which is owned by Procter & Gamble, said in a statement that it was “easy to believe that men are not at their best,” in today’s times.
“As a company that encourages men to be their best, we have a responsibility to make sure we are promoting positive, attainable, inclusive and healthy versions of what it means to be a man,” the company stated.