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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think the new irn bru advert is a bit offensive?

32 replies

Sneezingwakesthebaby · 30/04/2013 10:05

I know there's bigger problems in life but I'm genuinely curious about this one.

The new irn bru advert has a Scottish man being introduced to his Scottish daughters English boyfriend. The dad has a Scottish flag carpet. The boyfriend has an English flag outfit on his dog called Wembley. Every time the Scottish man speaks to the boyfriend, he has a sip of irn bru "to get him through" talking to the English boyfriend. Isn't this just making an offensive joke about the way some Scottish people hate English people just for being English?

I don't see why its allowed really. If I imagine the advert with different nationalities maybe with a dad who is British and has white skin and a boyfriend who is from India or Africa, this would be racist and offensive.

Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Annakin31 · 30/04/2013 10:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MumfordandDaughter · 30/04/2013 10:16

Personally, I'm more offended disturbed by the one with the mum rabbiting on about her breast implants to her teenage son, then pulling him into her chest for a better view... Confused

PickledLiver · 30/04/2013 10:18

Not really. It's just playing on a stereotype. Don't find it offensive at all.

DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper · 30/04/2013 10:23

I'm neither Scottish nor English, but I think I'd be way more likely to be offended by that ad if I was Scottish. You know, for portraying my nation as unbelievably petty and chippy.

ComposHat · 30/04/2013 10:26

I think it is lazy and not particularly clever (I loved the Fanny one) but it makes Scots look English-hating bigots and -ho ho ho - it is all a big laugh.

Load of bollocks.

mrsjay · 30/04/2013 10:26

it is playing into the daft scottish sterotypes I dont think it is offensive , I do think the mum has a new push up bra iccky though having teen boys in for a group hug is URGH

AnnieLobeseder · 30/04/2013 10:26

The current range of IrnBru adverts are absolutely appalling and I can't believe they've got away with any of them.

DonDrapersAltrEgoBigglesDraper · 30/04/2013 10:31

The whole 'big nation' v 'small nation' thing. The small nation goes around hating on the big nation, desperate to beat them, preoccupied with them...

All the while, the big nation is totally oblivious to the small nation...

It's cringeworthy. And I say this as a member of a small nation with a neighbouring big nation that barely even knows we exist.

mrsjay · 30/04/2013 10:31

they are bad I agree even the scottish one I dont find offensive they are just awful ,

SofaKing · 30/04/2013 10:35

I was worried dh would find it offensive as he is English and we live in Scotland, but he just joked that that was what it must have been like when I introduced him to my family!

WilsonFrickett · 30/04/2013 10:41

I'm usually very up on anti-English racism, but to me this is taking the piss out of the Scottish stereotype rather than the other way round. While I didn't lol, I sort of sniggered.

mrsjay · 30/04/2013 10:43

yes I agree with you it is taking the pee of daft scottish racisim rather than being english hating . you do still get scottish v english rubbish sadly

NotMostPeople · 30/04/2013 10:45

I think they are all offensive in that they look like they've been directed by my 10 year old, appalling acting.

SPsYoniTheOneAndOnly · 30/04/2013 10:47

I cant get offended by adverts. I really cant.

Though the 'Kate is still Kate' adverts gets on my nerves.

PickledLiver · 30/04/2013 10:52

We've been through 4 moves, 2 newborns, I've had my bowels pulled out with pliers, we holidayed in Gaza and ended up on the (mine-laden) strip, I've had 12 affairs, started drug dealing, sold black market meat out of the back of a van but Kate still looks like Kate.

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 30/04/2013 10:55

I'm Scottish and love all the irn-bru ad's.

IMO they're tongue in cheek rather than offensive.

YABU. Wink

ItsallisnowaFeegle · 30/04/2013 10:58

Posted too soon...I definitely agree that they're poking fun at Scottish stereotypes.

FREEDOM! Shock (Sorry, couldn't resist)

Original poster
Sneezingwakesthebaby · 30/04/2013 10:59

Well the MN massive has spoken and IABU Grin I am surprised though! And yes yes to that Kate advert.

OP posts:
ItsallisnowaFeegle · 30/04/2013 11:07

Yy to despising 'Kate's still, well, Kate' meh!

LittlePeaPod · 30/04/2013 11:13

I am mixed race and I would not be offended if you replaced him with a black/mixed race guy. The content would be the same - cultural stereo type between England and Scotland (not colour of skin/racism) etc. Personally I really don't see anything offensive in any of the adverts and I think it's light hearted satire. There are plenty of jokes/literature etc that have used stereo type satiric jokes as a basis of their humour. Sometimes to make a point, criticise society and/or just because their funny. I think we can get a little bit too PC these days.

ScarletLady02 · 30/04/2013 11:14

I haven't seen this ad but the one that's pissing me off right now is the new Go Compare advert...

IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE TWO DOGS CARRYING A BOX IT LOOKS LIKE TWO DOGS FUCKING AND THE FRONT DOG LOOKS REALLY TRAUMATISED BY THE WHOLE THING AAAAAAAARGH

Sorry....it's really annoying me....

ScarletLady02 · 30/04/2013 11:16

www.campaignlive.co.uk/news/1176662/

This one...the dog doesn't look particularly bothered in this picture...but he does in the advert...

Maybe I have a dirty mind, but at first glance when I saw it I didn't really see the box Blush

squoosh · 30/04/2013 11:19

I think the Irn Bru ads are getting very tired.

They need to move to a new agency.

LadyBeagleEyes · 30/04/2013 11:20

Aw, I like that advert Scarlet, now you've made me look at it in a different way Hmm.
The dog has such a sweet little face, that's all I noticed.

VitoCorleone · 30/04/2013 11:20

Havent seen it but did laugh at the "your granny was a fanny" one Grin

The mum with big boobs was cringy though

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