Marks & Spencer release new Christmas ad after pulling original amid backlash
Marks & Spencer were one of the first stores to drop its festive advert for Christmas 2023 on Wednesday, but were hit with a huge backlash within hours of the campaign launching.
Amid the backlash, the British retail store has now rolled out another commercial for their Christmas campaign, with actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney providing the voices for two of characters in the advert, and comedian Dawn French taking on the role of the Christmas Fairy.
But Marks & Spencer's big Hollywood advert has premiered amid the retailer being forced to issue an apology after its original star-studded promotion promoted outrage online. A since-deleted post shared on the company's Instagram page featured paper Christmas hats burning in a fire grate which the retailers captioned with, 'This Christmas, do only what you love...like saying no to paper hats'.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney are the voices of the MittensThe post drew heavy criticism from followers who noticed the burning hats which were the colours of the Palestinian flag. People on social media were quick to notice, branding it "insensitive" and "disgusting" in light of the current crisis in Gaza. The post was part of M&S ' "This-mas not That-mas" campaign unveiled on Wednesday, with its advert featuring Queer Eye star Tan France and Ted Lasso actress Hannah Waddingham shunning festive traditions they dislike.
In a statement released by the Marks & Spencer on Wednesday night, a spokesperson for the company addressed the backlash and said: "Today we shared an outtake image from our Christmas Clothing and Home advert, which was recorded in August. It showed festive coloured red, green and silver party hats in a fire grate.
Ryan Reynolds mispronounces name of new Wrexham signing in hilarious video
The brand has since deleted this Instagram post (Instagram)"While the intent was to playfully show that some people just don't enjoy wearing paper Christmas hats over the festive season, we have removed the post following feedback and we apologise for any unintentional hurt caused."
The high street store has rallied in some high profile stars in the past to voice their characters in their food advert including Jenifer Saunder s and Tom Holland, who have both voiced characters which have appeared alongside Dawn French's Christmas Fairy. This year the food and lifestyle retailer have kicked things up a gear by bringing in not just one, but two Hollywood stars to help bring their commercial to life.
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, the Hollywood best pals who jointly own Wrexham Football Club, have come together to give the voices to a pair of Mittens – called Left and Right – in this year's advert. The ad begins with comedian and actress Dawn's fairy looking out the window as she spots a lost red and white knitted glove – with what appear to be green antlers – looking cold and lonely in the snow.
The Christmas Fairy casts a spell to bring the glove to life and magically pulls it inside to discover the mitten is attached to a piece of red string, which is attached to another glove. Inside the warmth of the home, which is decorated with a tree, lights and other festive nick nacks, the Christmas Fairy cheerfully tells the Mittens: "Merry Christmas!"
Ryan's mitten, Right, introduces the pair as the Christmas Fairy asks: "What on earth were you doing outside?" Right replies: "Oh goody it's backstory time. Picture a little girl, let's call her Lilly – her family are trekking across the pond. Picture a cold night and loose backpack. Picture Lilly's tears as she realises she may never feel the warmth of our polyester knit..."
Rob's mitten, Left, emotionally adds: "I feel so empty" as the Christmas Fairy says: "What a sad story", as Right replies: "Why thank you". The Christmas Fairy soon gets to work cheering the pair up as she flies off with the Mittens' adjoining string in hand and announces: "Come on let's sprinkle you with some M&S Christmas magic!" It then cuts to a montage of the Mittens enjoying some Marks and Spencer-themed Christmas joy including pulling a cracker, playing Connect 4 with some foiled chocolates and playing catch with the store's iconic chocolate sprout.
The Mittens are then seen swinging from a bell decoration hanging on a wall while the Christmas Fairy puckers up for a kiss under some mistletoe before the Mittens go flying towards the Fairy and crash into her. The adorable advert then sees the Christmas Fairy setting a Christmas pudding alight as she says: "It gets better," while Left and Right watch on in awe, before noticing their string has been set alight. The Christmas Fairy quickly puts the fire out and says: "Oh no that's worse!"
In an attempt to cheer up the Mittens, she casts a spell to put on an impressive Christmas dinner spread as she says: "And here's a feast fit for a mitten." She seems to have done her job as Left and Right jump up and down excitedly on the table and say: "Best Christmas ever," before high-fiving one another.
The commercial is the first of a series of adverts culminating in the Mittens being reunited with their beloved owner Lilly, which will run from now and throughout the Christmas period.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
