M&S Christmas ad

[Green777]

M&S now deleted Christmas ad has been heavily criticised for burning hats in the colour of the Palestine flag and for the reflection of a blue and white flame burning in the eye of a smirking Sophie Ellis-Baxter.

Lots of people are boycotting M&S for the ‘dark and twisted’ post supposedly celebrating the genocide of Palestine even though M&S say it was filmed before the 7th October attack from Hamas, pointing out the founder of M&S as being a Zionist.

It does seem to be very much a coincidence?

I agree with this. I read some of the comments on Instagram, just bizarre!

Even if it were filmed months before there’s no way it should have been aired, for the use of colours is significant and was bound to cause upset due to being coincidentally showing the burning of the colours of Palestine with the glint of blue and white burning in the actress’ eye.

I'm.starting to understand why all the insane anti-Semitic theories have such traction if this is the level of gullibility and paranoia in evidence.

Many flags have this colour combination, mine does. I wonder if M&S had not had Jewish founders, whether there would be the same rush to assume deliberate offence ?

Of course not. I know someone who works for a Jewish organisation. A few years ago we were talking about sponsorship and I asked about M&S. She said that as M&S has Jewish roots they steer well clear of any sort of association with any Jewish causes because, even outside flashpoints points like the current crisis, the embedded antisemitism in society means that M&S is constantly dealing with the risk of antisemitism to their business.

We have blue and white Christmas lights for windows🙄 Going to get a brick through it this year are we.
People are fucking ridiculous sometimes

I googled "boycott M&S palestine" to see what was being said about it.

I thought I'd screenshot a snippet of a history of M&S on a UK communist website.

Of course it’s all a conspiracy theory because Jews control the media…

the antisemitism on this site and the UK in general is absolutely disgusting.

Commies commying I see😶

I subjected myself to a bit of tiktok... Most people are smart enough to just say "these people" or "Zionists" but some are less filtered

Hilariously Tiktok is also partially owned by jewish led companies....

By the same terms, the Greta Thunberg / octopus debacle was equally ridiculous but it was termed "antisemitic" due to the use of the Octopus plushie supposedly being an antisemitic trope. I am not saying there are not historical incidences of Octopus / anti semitic propaganda but to claim the plushie is such is patently a stretch. (Let's not forget she also has a Jewish person in the pic!).

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonmcgowan/2023/10/25/greta-thunbergs-stand-with-gaza-is-a-problem-for-the-climate-change-movement/

(The article linked is just a reminder of the Octopus and what happened rather than the main point.)

It works both ways!

@SomeCatFromJapan It’s really quite simple, many have taken offence and decided to boycott M&S because it really was bound to offend. They knew this before they aired it.

Could you please elaborate on the anti-Semitic conspiracies?

@AgingDisgracefullyHere

I agree, Tik-toks like that are just as disgusting as anti-muslim/Palestine. They should be taken down immediately.

The octopus may have been placed there for a reason, which makes it antisemitic even if they don't realise that's what they're doing. Or it may have just happened to have been there because she likes the cuddly toy and it was nearby. It's an unfortunate image and anyone who has good intentions would remove it once made aware of the problem. She did so.

I am not sure how I feel about the use of antiZionist Jews. The ultra orthodox are all against the Israeli state, as well as plenty of more liberal Jews. I don't disagree with that. But using the presence of Jewish people to claim that there can be no associated antisemitism bothers me.

Trump supporters used to point to Blacks for Trump as proof that MAGA doesn't have a racism issue. And black people at rallies would be moved to spots behind Trump where they could be photographed.

@SirVixofVixHall

Ireland is not currently being razed to the ground with 10,000 civilians or more killed and being killed as we speak, AFAIK.

M&S knows their reputation of ‘Zionist’ roots and how this post would be taken. Even if the flags aren’t being represented, they knew how it would be perceived for this reason.

You think they knew they'd offend before they aired it? That it was deliberate? And this benefits a publicly traded company how?

What's that quote? Don't attribute something to malice when ignorance is the more likely reason?

Agreed, I thought that was equally far-fetched. Although people really should stop this nonsense of "there's even a Jew in the photo!". It's all a bit "I can't be racist, some of my best friends are black", don't you think?

Jews are not all one people. We're allowed different opinions. I mean, Hamas would still gladly murder the person in the photo in cold blood as they won't differentiate, but we come in all different shapes and sizes. There's a joke about there being two Jews left in Afghanistan but three synagogues. (Although probably best if a non-Jew not repeat it 🙈) We're all entitled to our own opinions.

@Green777 still interested to hear what colours you would consider Christmassy

@AgingDisgracefullyHere

Anyone in marketing knows how rigorously screened campaigns like this are with many meetings discussing each and every second and shot.

Of course they knew and aired it anyway because they can use the excuse that it was created before Oct 7th.

No company in their right mind would dare to post that with what’s happening now, unless…

@AgingDisgracefullyHere so that’s your only comment and answer to what I said? I see.

@OhHelloTheres

Gold, red, green are colours that spring to mind.

Please keep in mind, I’m aware that it was probably not intentioned when it was filmed - I can’t say for sure. But the airing of it now? That does seem very sus.

Also those colours aren’t being used in a Christmas joyful sense, they’re being burned in the fire.

Did anyone see the recent Kim Kardashian instagram post whereby she dressed her kids up in halloween "Zombie" football costumes basically with blood smeared all over them and holes everywhere.

It looked like she was mocking Gazan children and even if it wasn't meant in that way, she should have known better and it was in poor taste.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CzHjNS-SKvC/?img_index=3

DH is arab from the region and even he rolled his eyes so no, it's not "of course it will offend" generally.
It would only offend those looking for offence and conspiracies 🤷
It's all Christmas colours.

I am not pro Isreal (in this situation, not generally) but people are being so extra and hypocritical last month it's fucking laughable.

@Wwwnothingdotcom

Oh that’s okay then as long as your DH didn’t get offended.