Huggies Crosses The Line (Video)
When I think of the word fuddy-duddy, I imagine an old grandma-looking woman in a turtleneck blouse with her hair pulled back in a tight bun. She frowns as she points her finger in disgust at the younger generation who are currently ruining the world with their lack of morals and rock and roll music. I’m not sure why this woman is my proverbial fuddy-duddy, but it works for me.
I always swore I was going to be an anti-fuddy-duddy woman. I was going to be a fun mom, a cool mom, a HIP mom. I wouldn’t sneer when I saw things that were out of the norm, nor would I point a crooked finger at things I didn’t like. Unfortunately, I may have to pull my hair back in a tight bun, buy a turtleneck blouse, and shake my finger for shame after watching the new Huggies denim diaper commercial.
This commercial–if that’s what you want to call it–starts out with two women at a cafe’ who become so mesmerized by something, that both women have to take their sunglasses off to get a closer look. I’m thinking Jake Pevelka from the Batchelor must be walking down the street, why else would these women be reacting like that? The commercial then cuts to a baby boy about Sayle’s age strutting down the street in a denim diaper. The premise of this commercial is that the diapers are “chic” and babies who wear them are fashionable.
I don’t appreciate the commercial, nor the connotation behind it. In my opinion, the music and the staging are somewhat sexy–too sexy for a child to be in it. Advertising always wants to push the envelope to grab the consumer’s attention; however, there is a fine line between what is and what is not acceptable. And to my judgement, they have crossed that line.
Let babies be babies, and let Jake Pevelka strut down the street!
Here is the commercial. Let me know what you think about it!
Yes, I’d say that crosses the line!
Agreed! I often wonder if advertisers would have enough nerve to hold seniors to the same poorly represented stunts they try with toddlers….new Depends commercial? (sorry for the visual)
I agree Brooke, I don’t like it!
I agree with you Brooke the whole package: music, imagery and narrative are inappropriate for the subject matter. The humour is cheap and possibly strays into even worse territory. Parents should boycott these nappies as a protest. People power can and has beaten big corporations before. It geta a big thumbs down from me even without my turtleneck blouse and bun!
You are one of the “hippest” mommies around and I agree that it is totally sexy!
It almost crosses the line into child porn. I mean seriously…why would grown women be looking at a baby like that? It’s just stupid. I’ll buy my own turtleneck and we can be twins. It’s ridiculous!!! Rylee won’t be strutting down the street hoping to pick up an older chick.
Ah-I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only fuddy-dud annoyed with this commercial. And thanks Kari for the “one of the hippest mommies around” comment.
Ashley, I did wonder if Huggies took into consideration that pedaphiles DO watch television and this type of commercial is right up their ally. Ughs-just makes me sick.
When i first saw this commercial, I said you have got to be kidding me! This is crazy! While im sure the genius that thought of this “brilliant idea” is giving themselves a pat on the back, i must give them the crazy sign behind their back. First of all, who is really going to see those jean diapers anyway? Arent they usually covered by pants? Call me crazy but im a firm believer in putting clothes on my kid, and i could care less what the diapers look like, as long as they get the job done! But i guess to each their own, but i am definitely not a fan of these!
Right there with you, but you know me, I am offended by way tamer things than this (:
I’m with one of the above posts – “jean” diapers just sound weird without the very disturbing commercial. Not to mention I always prefer the girls in shorts or pants in case of the random diaper blowout so why show off just the diaper?
I think this commercial is way too sexy, and might even border on child pornography. That might be a going a little far, but isn’t child pornography about a child dressed to look sexy and beyond their age? In that case, that applies here, as we see women AND men oggling this little boy, who has been trained to look over his back in a very sexy manner. I, for one, hope Huggies pulls this commercial, and as quickly as possible!!