To find this advert cringeworthy and a bit patronising?

[cool4cats2020]

Took my kids to the cinema yesterday (DS 8 and 10). Before the film this Tesco ad was played. We don't watch TV at home, so hadn't come across it before.

I'm a single parent, split up from my ex several years ago, and ex usually has the kids every other weekend for contact. We've generally got on pretty well and always put the kids first, quite often gone to events together and done birthdays and Christmas together for the kid's sake. But recently ex has gone right off the rails, and I've felt it necessary to suspend contact to protect the kids. So they're a bit fragile at the moment and cinema was a treat to help distract them.

Now I'm pretty thick skinned and not easily offended, but this ad made me want to curl up and die, and I can't imagine what my kids made of it. One minute it's showing that both parents are really uncomfortable and don't want to be doing it, the next they're all laughing together. The suggestion that some Tescos burgers can make everything ok between estranged parents and get them playing happy families would be comical if it weren't tragic.

I guess it's mostly separated/single parents who might see my POV here?

This, like he's actually lovely and it's grumpy mummy's fault they're not together,
But WAIT! go to tesco have a bbq and you could all be together again!!

I agree, its a terrible message to send through an advert.
I also see at the end when the child asks if they can do it more often is a shy look exchanged between the parents as though they're a couple about to start dating.
I could be imagining it though as I've hated tesco for years since they refused to assist us when my ex attacked us on their premises

Another one here who thought WTF the first time I saw it and can't stand it each time it's on. I usually press pause 😕

Also I've noticed several ads have been edited/ shortened after being shown so many times and wondered why they do that. Complaints or just something to do with costs? 😕

I dislike it too. I have a great co-parenting relationship with my ex and I would find it cringe to sit down for a barbecue.

My teenager said it would make younger kids think these parents will get back together, why can't theirs?

Really insensitive and just plain manipulative to use difficult situations to sell burgers.

Never seen it before and how awfully patronising. Tesco really have got it so wrong on this one.

I'm not single or separated and I thought this was awful the first time i saw it. Just gives children that want their parents back together an unrealistic hope that its achievable and easy. It presents the idea that two parents together is the only right way. I've no idea what Tesco were aiming for with this one.

I love this ad. I find it uplifting and moving.

However, this thread has made me reassess it. Fascinating to hear these views on how different people read things.

Can we do this every day?
No darling, daddy's a narcissistic prick withholding maintenance and by offering to go to Tesco he's trying to make me look bad if I refuse. In fact, he asked you to suggest the barbecue didn't he?

But seriously, my kids would watch this ad and possibly think it's in some way there's hope so purely for that, it's a no from me.

Yes I found it an odd advert.

Agree with others that companies seem to want to almost do mini films and its so unncessary and jarring.

Just tell me about your product, I dont want characters or back stories or personalities.

What says to you that they are 'trying to be funny'?

I had seen it before but not this version- this is an extended version to the one I've seen on tv.I dislike both and find them very odd- I find them quite confusing in terms of messages and, for some reason, they make me uncomfortable. No idea what the last 'line' is supposed to indicate- seems to be a pensioner speaking, not the slightly spaced out woman in the advert.

Even our young teenage son has said he can't understand the message and thinks it's a weird advert. Buy some burgers, let your ex talk you into hosting a burger fest and your kids will all be happy, smiley people? Or, mum, you really should get your ex around now and then for the sake of the kids and, who knows, you may be persuaded that he's not that bad after all?

At some point an ad agency actually pitched this to someone from Tesco, they said 'yes' and then it was probably approved by tonnes of other Tesco Execs...... the mind boggles

I prefer not to let XH over threshold of my home. He has no respect. Walks in in muddy shoes. One time he marched across the living room farting as he went 🙄 nowadays he doesn’t even stop the car engine when he drops DD off. BBQs were a favourite thing of his then afterwards he would moan about how much work he’d done when I’d spent ages in the kitchen doing all the grunt work.
So no, won’t be popping to Tesco and doing a BBQ with him!
I agree this sends an unhelpful message. Look how uncomfortable she is but she’s expected to suck it up. Kid is hoping they might reconnect. Nope. Hate it.

OMG that's just awful. Mind boggling awful.

Shit food and shit advertising from Tesco. Makes my blood boil!!

I totally agree with you. How ridiculous it is to suddenly resolve all past issues with an ex solely based on the presence of Tesco BBQ food.

I would rather sit down and eat a freshly BBQ’d turd than let exDP over the threshold of my door.
Poor choice of direction from Tesco.

It's a weird advert, and doesn't make me think "aww lovely wholesale Tesco I must shop there"
Hasn't it been edited now so it's shorter?
I'm sure it was slightly different when it first was shown.

this ad made me want to curl up and die,

I agree 💯

I'd never seen this ad before (not being shown in Ireland I think). It's so awful. Cringeworthy patronising & fake all at once.

It's also quite upsetting - my ex is an abusive asshole who has made mine & DC lives miserable & who I'm battling with in court, about as far from this idealised situation as is possible. (But I assume most people's situation is not like this either).

Many ads will play out in different versions in different mediums.

Cinema ads are often longer because you're more likely to give them your full attention. Social media ads are much shorter for the opposite reason.

First time I've seen it as I always switched off when they did the see you next week but as I knew it would be shite.
So they still fancy each other? Otherwise wtf.

I guess it's mostly separated/single parents who might see my POV here?

I am married, don’t even have children and was aghast the first time I saw this advert. I couldn’t understand how there had not been some uproar to the point that I thought I must have misunderstood.

THIS Mr Tesco.

This post says it all.

It's a horrid advert, almost written to a formula, mixed race kid, different race parents, jollied together with a Tescos BBQ (I'm not a fan of their meat). Indeed all that was missing was the dad/mother's same sex partner turning up with a bottle of wine.

I thought it was a bit "Parent Trap"... young child naively trying to matchmake separated parents.

Young kids in that situation who don't understand why their parents are apart must find it confusing.