Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Old Spice picks homophobic misogynist as winner of "manly" contest
7 comments
This is appalling.
Old Spice, in its infinite wisdom, decided to hold a contest where people can go online and vote for the "Art of Manliness Man of the Year 2008." Now, as if this sexist bullshit isn't bad enough, let's just take a look at the winner of this contest.
The winner is: Matthew Chancey. Chancey and his wife, Jennie, who runs the antifeminist website Ladies Against Feminism, are members of the Vision Forum, a cult-like group that spreads hatred. Take a look at their statement on homosexuality:
Chancey and his wife believe women should stay inside the home, and not work, attend college, or have the right to vote. Proctor and Gamble, the company that owns Old Spice, has been informed of his outlandish beliefs, but they took no action. Please take a minute to send a message to Old Spice in hopes that bombarding them with complaints will pressure them to take action. You can also contact organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and ask them to do something about this. They cannot get away with this.
Old Spice, in its infinite wisdom, decided to hold a contest where people can go online and vote for the "Art of Manliness Man of the Year 2008." Now, as if this sexist bullshit isn't bad enough, let's just take a look at the winner of this contest.
The winner is: Matthew Chancey. Chancey and his wife, Jennie, who runs the antifeminist website Ladies Against Feminism, are members of the Vision Forum, a cult-like group that spreads hatred. Take a look at their statement on homosexuality:"Vision Forum believes homosexuality is a moral perversion to be publicly denounced. Homosexuality is a sin of choice, not a genetically produced birth defect and no concessions should be granted to the trendy and politically driven scientific theories of the present generation. Furthermore, we oppose the use of politically correct and misleading language like 'gay' to describe sodomite behavior."
Chancey and his wife believe women should stay inside the home, and not work, attend college, or have the right to vote. Proctor and Gamble, the company that owns Old Spice, has been informed of his outlandish beliefs, but they took no action. Please take a minute to send a message to Old Spice in hopes that bombarding them with complaints will pressure them to take action. You can also contact organizations like the Human Rights Campaign and National Gay and Lesbian Task Force and ask them to do something about this. They cannot get away with this.
Posts
December 17, 2008 at 3:16 PM
I didn't really see a problem with the contest itself- I took Old Spice's "manly" ad campaign to be intentionally farcical and silly. Like, poking fun at traditional standards of being macho.
But the fact that they knowing picked a misogynist-homophobe really angers me. As if being ignorant and hateful is any kind of role model for men!
December 17, 2008 at 3:52 PM
My comments: "I had assumed that the campaign of "manliness" that you've had going for some time was intended to be light-hearted, hyperbolic and farcical. I can see now, by naming Matthew Chancey as your "Manly Man of the Year", that I had given you too much credit.
I don't think that misogyny and homophobia should be a foundation for male pride. Whether in jest or in all seriousness, giving this "award" to Chancey tells consumers that you think hatred, fear and intolerance are the key factors in being a man. No real men I know are like that. Real men I know are strong both physically and emotionally. They are open-minded, empathetic, funny, wise and helpful.
So long as this is the sort of negative image you want for your company, I will boycott and defame your products. And I will never again see your ads as the least bit amusing."
December 17, 2008 at 4:08 PM
Wonderfully put. Thank you so much for contacting them.
I said something similar in my comment - that "real men" don't promote hatred and disrespect.
December 17, 2008 at 6:19 PM
it's interesting that old spice would pick this "man" when one of the people representing their product is the openly gay neill patrick harris (whom i absolutely love)
December 21, 2008 at 1:41 PM
I also write about this on my blog shetakesontheworld.com and wrote letters to Old Spice and The Art of Manliness.
Danyell, I really like the comments you sent :) Very well written.
January 8, 2009 at 12:04 AM
Chiming in kind of late here, but get a load of what I just found:
http://southernthundertn.blogspot.com/2008/12/total-war-vs-noble-war.html?showComment=1229153880000#c726622861481144494
You can tell a lot about a guy by looking at who his friends are...
July 10, 2011 at 2:31 AM
Let me start with, I HATE Old Spice.. just the smell. Anyway I really dont get the big deal with that article I read.. it seems like a very real impression many people get from the Holy Bible. As a very smart 26 y/o female, whom finished college and decided to stay home with my child, and was raised in a pentecostal church, I have to say Sodomy is absolutely forbidden and as for women.. who can deny the special gift God gave US, to bare children. Thats just a little reality to help sink in the idea ... So I don't think you can really feel justified to attack a religion for their beliefs, that started llllooonnng before 'gay rights.'