"Fat People Smell Bad," Says Subway
Quiconque e-mailed me to alert me to a Subway commercial, which she blogged about, that implies that people who eat fast food get automatically fat and that, among other things, this means they smell bad. I know, I almost can’t believe it either. (As soon as I or anyone else finds the video, I’ll add it to this post.) As she describes:
An announcer asks a slackerish dude, “What do you get with a burger combo meal?” According to the announcer, in addition to the fries and the drink, the burger meal also comes with elastic waist pants, seat belt extensions, diet books, and extra-strength deodorant.
There’s also a Jezebel post about a similar ad in the same campaign, where a cashier tells a woman that ordering a cheeseburger means she’ll lose her boyfriend and have low self-esteem.
This article also talks about the offensiveness of that particular ad simply from a feminist standpoint:
Apparently, eating at McDonald’s makes you completely unlovable. The more troubling and implicit theme is that a woman’s worth is wrapped up not only in her waist size – something she should worry about even if she is Hollywood stick thin – but in her boyfriend as well…
These commercials prey on young women, a portion of the population that is already predisposed to having the kind of low self esteem that leads to eating disorders. It’s made all the more abhorrent by the fact that that the woman in the commercial is thin enough that the idea of one meal at McDonalds making her “fat” and “undesirable” is ludicrous.
I had Subway for dinner tonight, as it happens. I have Subway several times per week, as there’s one right by my house and one right by my work, and I like their sandwiches for a quick healthy meal. But given this new advertising campaign, I am going to think long and hard about visiting there ever, ever again. And in the meantime, both the advertising agency and Subway will be getting feedback from me. (The chain can be contacted here, but I’m sure there’s a more direct way.)
Here is the video of the low-self-esteem commercial. As I mentioned above, please keep your eye peeled for any more videos in this campaign. I’ll also add contact information for the chain and for the advertising agency as soon as I’m able to find it. Feel free to provide that info in the comments if you find it. Because you guys, THIS IS NOT OKAY.
Posted by mo pie
Filed under: Advertising, Fatism, Feel Good Friday, Feminism, Food, TV, Video
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How awful! I can’t believe someone signed off on the concept of this commercial let alone the final product! What the HELL??!!
I’m NEVER eating at Subway again and I’ve told them so. I hope they lose a lot of business over this. They deserve it for being so boneheaded and insensitive >_<
Those ads are extremely offensive. And yes, Subway stinks. I don’t understand why they always have an odd smell permeating out of their stores but they do. Quizno’s doesn’t and neither does Blimpie’s so why the funk, Subway? Why?
I think you all are awesome for your replys. Been fat most of my life, thank God now that I’m old am at peace with myself. Yah I thought the commercial stunk too but I would not be honest if I didn’t say they got soooome of the b/s we go thru right. Currently I’m 80 pounds lighter than I was, ( and still fat), my one and only child is experiencing great happiness at being thin, ( she was fat, thru diet and workouts doing fine), I know that Subway’s jab at deorderant really and truly sucked, not sure where I’m going with this except I do feel better after losing a tiny part of my weight. No offense intended but if Subway is the only way you can stick to your food plan, go for it. Been there, believe me, I am you.
Love, tree
If you watch the commerical carefully, it insinutates that an increased body mass equals increased presperation, not body odor. As indicated by the use of the term “extra-strength deodorant” versus saying “extra strength-perfume.” Allthough the argument can be made that deodorant is meant to stop presperation and body odor.
On a separate note, those with an unhealthy BMI sweat at a higher rate and more consistently than those with a normal BMI. The reason is that the amount of muscle exertion it takes to move a body that is 200 pounds is much more then it takes to move a body that is 100. Thus, more sweat could be induced since it takes more exertion. Also, the NEJM conducted studies that show that obesity exacerbates hyperhidrosis, a condition chacertized by increased presperation.
However, the risk of prespiring is way down the list of risks associated with a high BMI.
That all aside, my advice is to turn off the TV with the so-called offensive material and go play outside! It’s good for your mind and body!
Actually, doc, deodorant and anti-perspirant are two separate products–something I’ve learned through the sad experience of buying something labeled only as the former, and having my shirt get wet in the armpit area…yuck.
So if they say “deodorant” in the commercial, they mean something to keep one from stinking. Therefore, the negative assumption that fat people smell is still there.
It’s offensive, but I still think it’s funny how the customer in the video perkily asks , “Can I get that without the loss of self-esteem?” and the guy working in the back yells, “NO custom orders!”
Anyway, as a vegetarian I don’t eat out much anymore, anyway. If I wasn’t further along in my journey to self-acceptance, I’d get angry. There was a time when commercials like that would make me so depressed I would lose my appetite for a day or so. So now that I can look at them and not get sad, it’s progress for me.