Culture

Gap Holiday Commercial Boycotted By American Family Association

by Blaine Metzgar | November 17, 2009 at 04:33 pm

1787 views | 2 Recommendations | 6 comments

Gap's latest commercial for the 2009 Holiday season ad campaign is being boycotted by the American Family Association (AFA) for apparently not mentioning 'Christmas' in the TV-spot. The AFA issued a fatwā against Gap Inc., calling for a "two-month boycott over the company's failure to use the word 'Christmas' in its advertising to Christmas shoppers." But get this, in the commercial they do, in fact, mention 'Christmas'; it's actually the first Holiday mentioned!

"Go Christmas, go Hanukkah, go Kwanzaa, go solstice. . . . Do whatever you wannukkah and to all a cheery night."

On the American Family Association's website, a member published a decidedly accusatory, yet now unfounded, tirade about the retail giant saying,

Gap "does not use the word 'Christmas' to avoid offending those who don't embrace its meaning," writes Buddy Smith, executive assistant to the president of the AFA, on the organization's website. "Christmas has historically been very good for commerce. But now Gap wants the commerce but no Christmas."

"I interpret Gap's decision as a warning sign to Christians to get out there and tell people about Jesus Christ," writes Smith.

Check out the commercial below and decide for yourself if the American Family Association was mistaken in their boycott or not?

1 See all footage | View Slideshow

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Amy Judd

at 17:48 on November 17th, 2009

It's funny because they clearly tried to cover many holidays that take place this time of year and they still got flak for it.

Mimi P. (not verified)

at 21:22 on November 19th, 2009

Maybe its just me, but I CLEARLY heard them say, "Go CHRISTmas!" Not only did they include Christmas, but they said it first. Never mind the fact that they included the major holiday celebrations (Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa) but they also mentioned Solstice, a holiday that not many know about. I do not agree with the AFA for boycotting this commercial or Gap, Inc. There is NOTHING to actually boycott...

Lilyrose (not verified)

at 02:53 on November 23rd, 2009

AFA...why not spread the real good word...alert folks about the cruel companies that conduct tests on animals and ask for them to boycott them instead! For goodness sakes this commercial is about Peace, Freedom, and Unity. Perhaps I too am guilty of practicing witchcraft...I have a black cat (a familiar right?) and if you were to tie a boulder to my leg and drop me into a lake I would sink and drown...GUILTY...A WITCH!!! This is my biggest problem with most all religions...people become intolerant fanatics. Pity we have much room to grow as a people...some of us need to learn about acceptance of differences and love. No good reason we all cannot celebrate together regardless of creed, sex, race etc. in this experience known as life.

A. H. (not verified)

at 21:59 on November 24th, 2009

Apparently those who have commented already have come into this game in last quarter. The offense is not that Gap refused to say the word Christmas in their commercial but when asked to include "Christmas" in their advertising as a sign of respect for those that celebrate the religious holiday that Gap sells presents for (and markets most heavily to), they responded with this commercial which is a mocking, shove in the face. They literally dance around the issue while trying to make Christmas, and Christian faith, sound old-fashioned, unpopular, and even exhort people to "86" it or trash it - loudly stating "We don't care" or "We just want you to give us your money even while disrespect you"My question is, does the brilliant person who came up with this response, and alienated 75% of their customers, still have a job?

Tracy Spencer-Brown (not verified)

at 08:01 on November 25th, 2009

for Pete's sake! I am a Christian minister. Not all Christians are intolerant bigots, as some are assuming because of the AFA's response. Neither do I find the commercial to be " a mocking, shove in the face (where) They literally dance around the issue while trying to make Christmas, and Christian faith, sound old-fashioned, unpopular...." It's a cheer for Pete's sake, to advertise jeans, urging KIDS to "86 the rules" - something every generation of youth long to do, at least as far as I can remember. Can we just relax a bit, and not make hugely wrong and inappropriate assumptions about folks during this season?