Jump to content
This site uses cookies. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. More Info... ×

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com!
    eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Jefferson Adams
    Jefferson Adams

    By Jefferson Adams •

    Agency and Party City Apologize for 'Gross' Gluten-Free pre-Super Bowl Ad

    Reviewed and edited by a celiac disease expert.

    When one of the women points out the gluten-free options, the other asks "Do we even know people that are like that?"

    Agency and Party City Apologize for 'Gross' Gluten-Free pre-Super Bowl Ad - Photo: CC--Jeepers Media
    Caption: Photo: CC--Jeepers Media

    Celiac.com 02/20/2018 - Party City has pulled a controversial advertising spot that provoked outrage in gluten-free community by tagging gluten-free dieters as 'gross.'

    Moreover, both Party City, and the advertising firm behind the pre-Super bowl ad, Hill Holliday, have issued public apologies in an effort to mitigate the outrage caused by its obviously insensitive ad.

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A12):
    The ad starred two women attending a Super Bowl party and standing in front of an "inflatable snack stadium."

    When one of the women points out the gluten-free options, the other asks "Do we even know people that are like that?"

    The first woman answers: "Tina."

    To which, the second woman says: "Oh, gross, yeah."

    Perhaps unsurprisingly, furious viewers wasted no time in launching the Twitter hashtag #IAmTina, which called out both Party City and Hill Holliday for insensitivity toward people with celiac disease or gluten-sensitivity.

    Party City apologized via Instagram, and also clarified that celebrity Sunny Anderson played no part in the campaign.

    The company statement reads, in part: "Party City values its customers above all else, and we take your feedback extremely seriously. We recognize that we made an error in judgment by running the recent Big Game commercial, which was insensitive to people with food allergies…We will also be reviewing our internal vetting process on all advertising content to avoid any future issues. In addition, Party City will be making a donation in support of Celiac Disease research."

    Read more at: Adweek.com


     Share
    Go to articles

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    Guest Vickie Doswell

    Guest Vickie Doswell

    Posted

    I hate that these organizations that are so insensitive and when called out on it they offer up their feeble excuses and donations thinking that will placate those that they have offended. I saw the ad and I was more than offended. It is hard enough to find decent foods and restaurants as it is! I was at a restaurant after the ad aired and over heard a waiter tell a customer that their restaurant didn't cater to those gross gluten free nuts! I won't go their again and I won't shop Party City anymore. When friends ask I am going to tell everyone I know why. I am 66 years old and have celiac and I am not gross!

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Kelly

    Are you kidding. A gluten free diets is gross!!! I have had celiac for 10 years. I don't do the diet for fun or to lose weight.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Kelly
    I hate that these organizations that are so insensitive and when called out on it they offer up their feeble excuses and donations thinking that will placate those that they have offended. I saw the ad and I was more than offended. It is hard enough to find decent foods and restaurants as it is! I was at a restaurant after the ad aired and over heard a waiter tell a customer that their restaurant didn't cater to those gross gluten free nuts! I won't go their again and I won't shop Party City anymore. When friends ask I am going to tell everyone I know why. I am 66 years old and have celiac and I am not gross!

    Quit being so sensitive, that's the problem with this world. Everyone is too sensitive... I am 53 years old with celiac. Boo hoo. It didn't offend me. Really.... A GLUTEN FREE DIET IS GROSS!!! are you kidding

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Melanie B.

    Guest Melanie B.

    Posted

    Glad to hear that they apologized and I hope they will change their ways. I saw a post from a mother whose young celiac daughter saw this commercial and was understandably upset. As long as celiac and other allergies are treated as a joke, they will never be viewed as seriously as they are by the public and the restaurant industry.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites
    Guest Tara

    What happens when we eat gluten is gross but eating gluten free is not gross unless you hate meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables. I am also an excellent gluten free baker my stuff is not gross at all.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites


    Create an account or sign in to comment

    You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

    Create an account

    Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

    Register a new account

    Sign in

    Already have an account? Sign in here.

    Sign In Now

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate

  • About Me

    Jefferson Adams

    Jefferson Adams is Celiac.com's senior writer and Digital Content Director. He earned his B.A. and M.F.A. at Arizona State University. His articles, essays, poems, stories and book reviews have appeared in numerous magazines, journals, and websites, including North American Project, Antioch Review, Caliban, Mississippi Review, Slate, and more. He is the author of more than 2,500 articles on celiac disease. His university coursework includes studies in science, scientific methodology, biology, anatomy, physiology, medicine, logic, and advanced research. He previously devised health and medical content for Colgate, Dove, Pfizer, Sharecare, Walgreens, and more. Jefferson has spoken about celiac disease to the media, including an appearance on the KQED radio show Forum, and is the editor of numerous books, including "Cereal Killers" by Scott Adams and Ron Hoggan, Ed.D.

    >VIEW ALL ARTICLES BY JEFFERSON ADAMS

     

  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Related Articles

    Jefferson Adams
    Gluten Insensitivity? Party City Stumbles with Offensive Pre-Super Bowl Ad
    Celiac.com 01/26/2018 - Party retailer Party City finds itself in hot water over a recent commercial that implies that people who eat gluten free are "gross." The ad, which was part of a pre-Super Bowl effort to tout deals at the discount party store, has offended customers and non-customers alike.
    The commercial depicts the host of a Super Bowl party chatting with a guest. When the guest asks about a sad-looking plate of gluten-free snacks, the host replies: "Those are some gluten-free options."
    The guest asks: "Do we even know people that are like that?"
    To which the host replies: "Tina."
    The the guest delivers the big, supposedly funny punchline: "Oh, gross, yeah."
    Obviously, there's more than just a little bit wrong with this ad, which does not clarify whether "gross...

  • Recent Activity

    1. JoeBlow
      - JoeBlow posted a topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      0

      glutenfreedrugs.com

      For 16 years I have relied on the website glutenfreedrugs.com to determine if a pharmaceutical is gluten-free. The website has been down for at least a week. Does anyone have any information about this outage, the status of the website founder and maintainer pharmacist Steven A. Plogsted or a phone number? I did not get a response for my email to glutenfreedrugs...
    2. Beverage
      - Beverage replied to Katiec123's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      16

      Finding out I’m coeliac whilst pregnant

      Sounds like you are in the UK. With blood numbers that high, I thought docs in UK would give an official diagnosis without the biopsy. You should ask about that, so you can get support faster. I'd try to find and print out anything that supports that in your country, get another appointment and take all of it with you. Even in the US now, some docs...
    3. Beverage
      - Beverage replied to Ading69's topic in Traveling with Celiac Disease
      3

      Seeking Gluten-Free Advice for My Trip to South Korea!

      Is soy sauce in Korea also made from wheat like it usually is in US? I'd be concerned that even if asking about gluten, they would not be aware of or think of some like that.
    4. trents
      - trents replied to MMH13's topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      20

      Not Sure What to Think

      That's a good idea. It can at least establish the potential for developing celiac disease and can help people decided between a celiac diagnosis and NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity). And it doesn't require a gluten challenge and can be had without a doctor's prescription.
    5. awright24
      - awright24 posted a topic in Celiac Disease Pre-Diagnosis, Testing & Symptoms
      0

      Anyone had endoscopy with a cold/cough???

      I have my endoscopy on Thursday, has anyone had the procedure done with a cough? I don't have a continuous cough, but every now and then throughout the day I have sort of coughing episodes. They are a lot better than they were but I called endoscopy and they said to speak to my gp and my gp got back to me and said I need to ask endoscopy if its ok if I have...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      121,186
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Grandma anna
    Newest Member
    Grandma anna
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      120.3k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Popular Now

    • Nicola flaherty
      4
      Feeling unwell for years

      By Nicola flaherty
      Started

    • ItchyHell
      4
      Itch Relief for dermatitis herpetiformis

      By ItchyHell
      Started

    • MMH13
      20
      Not Sure What to Think

      By MMH13
      Started

    • Tanner L
      6
      Bad Reaction To Regular Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream

      By Tanner L
      Started

    • Katiec123
      16
      Finding out I’m coeliac whilst pregnant

      By Katiec123
      Started

  • Popular Articles

    • Scott Adams
      60
      The Gluten-Free Diet 101 - A Beginner's Guide to Going Gluten-Free

      By Scott Adams

    • Scott Adams
      78
      Forbidden Gluten Food List (Unsafe Ingredients)

      By Scott Adams

    • Scott Adams
      66
      Safe Gluten-Free Food List (Safe Ingredients)

      By Scott Adams

    • Scott Adams
      144
      What Are the Symptoms of Celiac Disease?

      By Scott Adams

    • Scott Adams
      72
      Gluten-Free Alcoholic Beverages

      By Scott Adams

  • Upcoming Events

×
×
  • Create New...