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Are Chrysler’s new Dodge Caliber ads homophobic?

04/06/2006, 12:46 PM

By admin

A Chrysler Group campaign to sell the 2007 Dodge Caliber has struck a nerve with the gay community, reports the Detroit News. Some viewers and gay rights supporters have complained the Dodge commercial — dubbed “Too Tough” — is offensive. It features a fluttering fairy zapping buildings and trains into cuter-looking gingerbread houses and toy trains. In the ad, the fairy fails to make the Dodge Caliber any cuter. Frustrated, the fairy turns a male pedestrian’s button-down shirt and jeans attire into white shorts and a polo shirt draped with a sweater. His black dog leash becomes four pink ones connected to Pomeranians, and he gets some white knee-socks. Chrysler is likely trying to use the ads to show that the Caliber is significantly “tougher” than the “cute” Neon it replaces.

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04/06, 12:59 PM

posted by:

Matt

Honestly people – lighten up! Unless you’re going to have an entirely generic (Orwellian) ad campaign, there will be something that’s offensive to someone. Instead of getting all bent out of shape, have a laugh!

And I’m not just directing this at the gay community, also the Muslims offended at the cartoon, the scientologists offended by South Park, and the Christians offended that Ford is *targetting* the gay community.

There’s plenty of ’straight’ and ‘gay’ and trans-gender-religious-agnostic-optimistic-pessimistic undertones to everything out there… do something better with your time – learn to get a sense of humour and move on…

04/06, 1:05 PM

posted by:

Piablo

I’m a white male hetero sexual, and I’m basically to the point of saying “F#$% Everyone”. Dear god, the world has become a bunch of babies.

04/06, 1:10 PM

posted by:

TW

RIGHT-ON Matt & Piablo! Enough of this “You hurt me” BS.

04/06, 1:11 PM

posted by:

Tommy

I’m offended by stupid people who are offended by stupid issues. Only fairy’s can complain abou the ad. Everyone else just needs to shut up and not buy the car if they don’t like it.

04/06, 1:15 PM

posted by:

Scott

The Caliber’s replacing the Neon? Same platform, but I thought they were to be made concurrently?

04/06, 1:17 PM

posted by:

Carlos

Uh, no Scott. The Neon is dead (for reals).

And I see how they could’ve made an ad that would be offensive pretty easily, but calling this one offensive is a stretch.

04/06, 1:23 PM

posted by:

nikivee

I like that commercial. And I’m tired of whining babies in our society.

04/06, 1:48 PM

posted by:

E M

OH for cryin out loud! Can’t any group have a good laugh at themselves? Especially the gay group(s)? There is a lot to laugh at…have you ever seen Will & Grace? Hilarious, and they make worse fun of gays than this commercial does on every episode!

This country’s downfall will be the UAW and the coddling of every stupid alternative group. We are too soft and cuddly, and that’s why we are getting our butts handed to us in more ways than one.

04/06, 1:48 PM

posted by:

Chris

I also have support for the commercial. It didn’t trigger any homosexual undertones for me at all. It seems to me the “issues” always lie with the people making the complaints. Along with what has been commented so far – if people want to find something wrong, they will. We don’t live in bubbles, people. In this world everyone at some time is going to get offended at something said or done – Just learn to get over it and move on! There’s too many more cool cars to look forward to. And funny commercials as well!

04/06, 1:59 PM

posted by:

NW_Mike

Come on, this is exactly how the yuppies dressed in the 80’s! Tennis shorts, Polo shirts & sweaters draped around the neck. Honestly, I think some people ‘look’ to be offended.

04/06, 2:03 PM

posted by:

JW

They are just saying the Calliber is more rugged looking than the Neon…

04/06, 2:31 PM

posted by:

Fred

Wow! I guess we know this blog is the home of the homophobic uptight male. How can you not be offended by this? This is gay baiting and unneeded gay baiting at best.

Dodge – I hate your “idiot hick” truck commercials too.

BTW – I am a pickup drivin’, country livin’, heterosexaul.

04/06, 2:53 PM

posted by:

Matt

Fred – honestly your offended? Really? Seriously, just move on – it will add years to your life! It’s bad enough that society is filled with over-sensitive people who get offended at even the slightest joke, nevermind that you wonder how others can’t be offended?

I suppose you would be happy with black text on a white background? Or a family? Or would that offend those from broken homes? Honestly – if you try hard enough everything is offensive… political correctness is such a pain in the ass. Please note – I am not condoning discrimination here – just saying that people need to lighten up. What if I’m a straight guy who likes my yellow polo shirt and dogs – if I have a small dog collection that I walk with am I gay?

And I’m not homophonic, or uptight… kind of ironic that you’re calling everyone else uptight.

04/06, 2:54 PM

posted by:

Pruce

how the hell is this commercial offensive?!

Seriously! You people are idiots!!!

04/06, 3:13 PM

posted by:

Adam

Americans are fat f*** idiots who got what they deserved on 9/11.

c’mon everyone lighten up! It’s just a joke!

04/06, 3:29 PM

posted by:

JCwhitless

I’m a tennis player from the Hamptons, and I wear fuzzy sweaters.

You people amuse me because you think I would be caught dead in a car that isn’t from Europe.
(and with under an 80K price tag to boot)

But I have to go, Bonsel and Gertie need to go on their afternoon walk!!

04/06, 4:06 PM

posted by:

Tim G

You guys ara all too funny. I agree with almost all of it. The best part is how, in those Miami Vice days, I wore white linen pants and pastel jackets. It didn’t make me gay and now I wear Levi’s and T’s, and hunt deer. What the Hell! Do we need Tim Allen to give it more power? I didn’t see the ad as as homophobic. And while I drive a big black Dodge with a HEMI, I’d consider a Caliber for my wife or college daughter.

04/06, 4:31 PM

posted by:

B.A.

I am a gay guy and I thought it was funny. Didn’t offend me one bit. I though am masculine guy, built and “tough” LOL. No one usually knows I like guys and I think people act to sensative sometimes….Folks it’s just a commercial. If anything it is saying gay is “cute” LOL!

04/06, 4:39 PM

posted by:

John S.

HOMOSEXUALS ARE GAY!

04/06, 5:09 PM

posted by:

Greg

i have a few gay friends and they could give a rats ass about this kinda ****.

04/06, 5:28 PM

posted by:

Garris

Oh, give me a break… People really have to relax…

04/06, 6:41 PM

posted by:

xtreme

This is excactly whats wrong with the Gay Populous, They get hyper over stupid ****. Plus if they are saying the guy in the commercial is gay… consider it advertising.

04/06, 6:44 PM

posted by:

Beavis

After he gets zapped, he looks FABULOUS! Thanks for assking!

04/06, 6:54 PM

posted by:

John

Gay people look like that? The polo shirt and shirts is a rich people look.
Pink is the fashionable color for several months in stores mainstream heterosexual stores like Express.
Gay folks around here wear black and gansta jewelry and and bulk up.

Offend rich folks on golf courses with polo shirts? Rich people don’t buy this junk anyways. They buy S-classes rebodied with a supersized engine drop, turned into supersonic fighter jets for $367,356,285.99 + tax & S&H like its chump change.

04/06, 7:15 PM

posted by:

drifty

“This is excactly whats wrong with the Gay Populous, They get hyper over stupid ****.”

Yes xtreme, because one gay group speaks for everyone. (if you can’t read sarcasm into that last line, i’ll spell it out for you. s….a…r…do you need me to continue)

I love the implication that gay people everywhere have the same perspective, like we aren’t individuals.

04/06, 8:10 PM

posted by:

canut4ever

First it was Ford and now Dodge. Either automakers seem desperate for new controversies despite niggling problems or a good laugh….

04/06, 9:03 PM

posted by:

captain america

most gay guys i know are built like greek gods and in no way whatsoever resemble the yuppie in the commercial…its just a marketing ploy to get people to talk about their boring little car.

04/07, 2:00 AM

posted by:

Steve

It is more homophobic to be afraid to make a joke than to make one as long as it is just a joke and not about hurting anyone.

04/07, 2:50 PM

posted by:

Steve

I’m gay. it doesn’t offend me at all. The point of the commercial was to show the Caliber is macho. So they make the guy look the opposite of macho. The opposite of macho is not gay. As several people have pointed out, we gay guys go to the gym a lot. lol. We would also never be caught dead in a sh!tty Caliber.

The advertising for the Caliber is a huge mistake. They are trying to make it seem like a macho, men-only car. So they are excluding all female buyers and now a chunk of gay buyers. If you advertise to a small group of people, you only get a small amount of sales in return. Good luck Dodge.

04/08, 12:02 AM

posted by:

john

Queer eye for the straight guy is “ok”. (calling them queer) but this commerical is not. That sounds like a double standard.

04/12, 11:01 AM

posted by:

Jeff

why isn’t anyone talking about the fairy? she is soooo cute, SHE has got me waiting for that ad, they just don’t show her enough. but i guess i would forget what car this ad is about, then. oh, wait, i already have…god she is hot…mmmm

05/19, 11:16 PM

posted by:

finest

Here’s the scoop. the insight, the enlightened explanee: The fairy (played by Scarlett Johanson?) turns everything into DISNEY!! Get it!! Tink doesn’t do homo. She does Disney CUTE. I did a show in Palm Beach. 50,000 customers in 4 days and HALF looked like this guy. HALF. And they were all richer than ****. Not homo. RICH. Dig it.

05/29, 10:29 PM

posted by:

Nathan

yo this commecial has got to be the funniest thing i have ever seen. My grandma when this comes on turns the volume up for it and hope the guy talks. it is soo funny. people need to learn what comic relief is and get over their gay selves. Didge isnt saying anything about gays, a guy is walking his dog and laughs at a fairy. if you were the fairy what would you have done? exactly so shut up and think. dodge you guys have probably the best commercials

06/04, 9:42 PM

posted by:

Charlie

Gays will try ANYTHING to remove any statement THEY find offensive. The ironic thing is that gays are the ones generally preaching tolerance. Yet, they are the LEAST tolerant of any group in the country.

There’s NOTHING homophobic about the commercial. FWIW, the fairy is HOT!

 
 
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