Marks and Spencer takes down alleged ‘subliminal’ anti-Palestinian Christmas Instagram ad
M&S has apologised after posting an outtake from its Christmas advert
Marks and Spencer has removed the alleged ‘subliminal’ anti-Palestinian Christmas Instagram ad following backlash.
The picture now removed, was shared on social media with the caption: “This Christmas, do what you love… like saying no to paper hats” and “#LoveThismasNotThatmas.”
However, a number of netizens saw a resemblance between the colours of the hats and the Palestinian flag, which led to a backlash.
In a statement, the British retailer Marks and Spencer (M&S) clarified that the image posted was an outtake from a Christmas advert, which was recorded in August, with traditionally coloured red, green, and silver Christmas party hats. However, we have removed the post following feedback.
A statement from M&S: pic.twitter.com/3tzJKdZbYW
— M&S (@marksandspencer) November 1, 2023
Marks and Spencer was being called out for a ‘subliminal’ anti-Palestinian Christmas Instagram ad which was posted over the weekend.
Adding more to it another video teaser of M&S for the Christmas campaign featuring a star, having the blue eyeliner with flames in her eyes was more than enough to irk netizens who find it similar to portraying Israel’s aggression towards Palestinians.
Though M&S hasn’t clarified this.
The image posted was an outtake from our Christmas advert, which was recorded in August, with traditionally coloured red, green and silver Christmas party hats. However, we have removed the post following feedback.
— M&S (@marksandspencer) November 1, 2023
The ad has attracted a lot of criticism.
The big irony is woke Ad agencies & their corporate "clients" don't understand less than 15% of society buy into their antiWestern, antiwhite anti male neo Marxist revolution. Yet they label it "inclusivity". As Bud Light discovered excluding 85% gives little room for sales
— RugbyMad (@Brit_heritageSE) November 2, 2023
M&S apologising for using traditional Christmas colours in an advert filmed months ago, is truly one of the dumbest things I have seen this year. I am agog. Hats off. https://t.co/72eep5pFgr
— Jamie Susskind (@jamiesusskind) November 2, 2023
The social media posts have irked many, leading to #BoycottMarksAndSpencer #BoycottMarksAndSpencers demands.
The blue eyeliner with flames in her eyes and burning the Palestinian flag is no coincidence! I (was) a regular customer and I’ll be boycotting a brand that supports occupation and genocide! @marksandspencer #BoycottMarksAndSpencer #BoycottMarksAndSpencers https://t.co/67M5LW7Zvj pic.twitter.com/33XKHVBcjZ
— Lujain Shehabi لُجين شهابي (@LujainMS) November 2, 2023
In a book called ‘Management; the Marks & Spencer Way’ (1991) then chairman Marcus Seif wrote…
— Phil Gould 🇵🇸🖕🥁 (@bongosaloon) November 2, 2023
“One of the fundamental objectives of Marks & Spencer is to aid the economic development of Israel.’
And they want us to believe this was a ‘mistake’? #boycottMarksandSpencer pic.twitter.com/0I6qiHifpS
Can you justify the blue eyeliner that has nothing to do with the ad color palette? The eye burning? Can you justify the hashtag?
— Ala Hamdan • الاء حمدان (@AlaHamdann) November 1, 2023
You really think we are dumb don’t you😂
@marksandspencer absolutely disgusted by this fascist of a tv advert from M&S it’s been deleted from their social media in case anyone didn’t see it time to #boycottmarksandspencer pic.twitter.com/k6TjOA5mbP
— Samera Bilal (@SameraBilal) November 1, 2023
This is not 1999, people are awake to the subliminal games 🤦♂️
— Halal Nation © (@HalalNation_) November 2, 2023
This ad erodes the meaning and magic of Christmas Remove it @marksandspencer and sack your marketing team (who are clearly totally out of touch) before you destroy your business. The idea any publicity is good publicity is rubbish, certainly in this case. #boycottMarksandSpencer https://t.co/TXAJZHPtnP
— Henry Bolton OBE 🇬🇧 (@_HenryBolton) November 2, 2023
