Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Feminism: Sex and gender discussions

Feminism: chat

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

BirdsEye no longer in a business relationship with Mumsnet re transphobia - unverified

196 replies

GirlDownUnder · 28/04/2019 01:27

@MNHQ / anyone

I've seen this tweet and wondering if it's verifiable a) that MN had a commercial contract that's ending and b) if yes, that's anything to do with transphobia?

The twitter thread references *@BirdsEye and @BirdsEye*UK

mobile.twitter.com/DadTrans/status/1122121214351290368

Growing-up-trans. @DadTrans

Parents of trans kids telling companies how much it hurts to see their advertising associated with transphobia works. Delighted to be able to buy
@BirdsEye fishfingers again after they confirmed they're no longer in a business relationship with #Mumsnet the #transphobia brand.


10:22 PM · Apr 27, 2019

BirdsEye no longer in a business relationship with Mumsnet re transphobia - unverified
OP posts:
PurpleCrowbar · 30/04/2019 07:15

Isn't it likelier that Birdseye had a time limited deal with MN?

Then thought ok, we've reached that demographic if we are ever going to. Let's go spend that chunk of the advertising budget for next year on a new tv campaign with a hot new Captain (or whatever).

Given their ah, robust response to previous accusations of transphobia I can't see why they'd change their mind - or do so without at least a bit of fanfare if they HAD unaccountably decided the blue hairs buy more fish fingers than MN?

PurpleCrowbar · 30/04/2019 07:23

X post Kat Smile

Original poster
GirlDownUnder · 30/04/2019 07:27

Come on Kat you'll need to come up with a fish pun soon, don’t leave it to salmon else Grin

OP posts:
SophoclesTheFox · 30/04/2019 07:28

Sorry just reread my post and it looks a bit like I’m saying 2B is misogynist Blush unfortunate phrasing, sorry! I should wake up a bit before I post.

I meant “your old fashioned misogyny” in the sense of “ what we have here is old fashioned misogyny”.

Gah! More coffee.

Needmoresleep · 30/04/2019 07:49

I feel quite uncomfortable about this.

Being GC is not the same as transphobic. MN are allowing discussion, not endorsing views.

There are essentially two approaches when parenting trans childre. Watchful waiting, and affirmation.Clearly transdad and the other twitter parent believe affirmation is the right approach. The parents of the two transchildren I know want to delay any irreversible decisions until their children reach maturity, despite pressure from various pro-affirmation sources (schools, social services, counsellors).

You can pick who is right, but it is a discussion that needs to be had. Lobbying advertisers to avoid a parenting website, prepared to host such a discussion smacks of some sort of #nodebate. This is not a political or ideological issue. These are children. We, whichever approach is advocated, need debate.

aprarl · 30/04/2019 07:52

Did anyone doubt it was a real email? Confused

Once again they can't distinguish between really basic concepts. A bit like the shout of "You transphobia, transwomen are real! You don't believe in them!" when of course everyone does, we just think they're still biologically male and socialised that way.

Just like that "they say it's a fake email!" - no, we're saying it doesn't say what you think it does. Idiots.

(I do wonder how much grief advertisers are getting from the batshit crazy contingent out there though. They're a scary bunch when they put their mind to it, as witnessed by event organisers. Their tactics border on terrorism sometimes.)

aprarl · 30/04/2019 07:54

*You're transphobic. Not you transphobia. (Although who knows, I've had more muddled things hurled at me on Twitter before.)

MeltedEggMum · 30/04/2019 08:08

They're a scary bunch when they put their mind to it, as witnessed by event organisers.

Quite.

Ereshkigal · 30/04/2019 08:15

I wrote to the CEO of Birds Eye when I got an unacceptable response from their marketing dept.

Yes, they realised you weren't going to go away, so they thought a neutral reply would be best. I wonder what the first "unacceptable response" was?

hope it was an email saying "potato"

Brighterf · 30/04/2019 15:17

Well never let the truth get in the way of a good headline:

www.gaystarnews.com/article/birds-eye-breaks-deal-with-mumsnet-for-anti-trans-posts/

Original poster
GirlDownUnder · 30/04/2019 15:41

Oh ffs!

And last line of that piece of 'journalism'

Gay Star News reached out to Birds Eye for comment but did not receive a response.

Well, we've reached out to MN with pretty much the same result...

OP posts:
MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 30/04/2019 16:34

Hello all
Thought I'd provide some detail and our take on all of this.

We started working with Birdseye in March 2017 testing a number of products - they were awarded their first Mumsnet Rated badge in June 2017 which they renewed for a further 12 months ending this June. They've decided not to renew the licence when it expires but that isn't unusual and their view was that the activity had come to a natural end.

We are talking to Birdseye about commercial activity with a number of their other brands and have no reason to believe they have any ongoing concerns about working with Mumsnet.

It is true that a number of TRAs have targeted Mumsnet advertisers over the past year. Obviously we are able to point to our commitment to freedom of speech as well as to minority rights and civilised discussion with regard to this issue and we don't believe it's had a significant impact on advertising activity.

littlbrowndog · 30/04/2019 16:36

💪 Justine

ZebrasAreBras · 30/04/2019 16:42

Thanks Justine Star

And can we have a fish emoji please Wink

WeepingWillowWeepingWino · 30/04/2019 16:43

well, what a surprise, not quite what was suggested on Twitter.

thanks Justine.

MNHQ
JustineMumsnet · 30/04/2019 16:45

Erm.. Dare I ask why?

ErrolTheDragon · 30/04/2019 16:46

Thanks for the response, Justine.

And can we have a fish emoji please

I think the early Christians nabbed that one. Grin

I'm pretty sure birds eye knows MNers want to give peas a chance.

ZebrasAreBras · 30/04/2019 16:48

My sole aches for the TRAs who have rushed out to buy fishfingers because of this fishy fake news Grin

ahagwearsapointybonnet · 30/04/2019 16:49

Should have known. MN codn't let themselves be battered by activists with chips on their shoulders Wink

Original poster
GirlDownUnder · 30/04/2019 16:50

Oooo seconded And can we have a fish emoji please

We had some punny good times on this thread, and cod almighty what a great oppor-tuna-ty and we think think you’re fin-tastic CakeGinThanks

OP posts:
Original poster
GirlDownUnder · 30/04/2019 16:57

give peas a chance

So much I want to say but maybe it'd not be as Waffly Versatile !?

Or I'm just waffling now Grin

OP posts:
Trousering · 30/04/2019 17:30

That Gay Star News piece is hilariously bad. The letter quite clearly left the reader to add their own spin.

They have fallen for it hook, line and sinker.

aprarl · 30/04/2019 17:51

I just do not understand how the mum interpreted it in the way that article suggests. It's batshit.

2BthatUnnoticed · 30/04/2019 17:52

Well this thread has warmed the cockles of me heart. Yes to the fish icon! And maybe a grey rock while we’re at it? Grin

I also think BirdsEye handled it sensitively vis-a-vie all parties.

Binglebong · 30/04/2019 17:55

A pair of fish fingers, surely?!

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.