Anything But Cute ad sparks controversy

A spot that is part of the Anything But Cute campaign by BBDO Detroit for the new Dodge Caliber compact is causing a bit of a ruckus among gay advocates. The ads were created to target 25-35-year olds with "edgy", "off-color humor". Chrysler has received a number of complaints calling the spot stereotypical and "a cheap shot", although they have no plans to pull the ad. SuperAdgrunts, check out the spot here

"I think it's a cheap shot," said Kathy Ervin, a Manistee mother of a lesbian. "It seemed to me to be a broad caricature of the kind of stereotypical behavior people have in mind about gay people, flouncing and a little over the top." [snip] "We're kind of surprised that people are making a conclusion about someone's sexual orientation based on the clothes they're wearing," said Suraya Bliss, a Chrysler spokeswoman. "This guy looks pretty gay to me," said Jeffrey Montgomery, executive director of the Detroit-based Triangle Foundation, a civil rights organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. "I'm willing to believe they didn't intend it to be a gay man, but I don't believe they're shocked someone would draw that conclusion."

Commercial Closet reviewed the ad saying:

"It directly finds humour with the term fairy, referring not just to the type that flies around with a magic wand, but also the universally recognisable gay stereotype of an effeminate gay man."

Check out the other ad in the campaign,Moon Dog, here