Uber Eats has faced criticism and backlash for a controversial Super Bowl ad that mocked people with peanut allergies. The minute-long commercial, centered around forgetfulness, featured several celebrities including Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, David Beckham, his wife Victoria, as well as rapper Jelly Roll and Usher, who is set to perform at halftime. However, one scene in the ad showed a man with hives and a swollen eye eating from a peanut butter jar and making light of the fact that peanuts are the primary ingredient.
As soon as the ad debuted on Tuesday, social media users expressed their outrage, arguing that it was disrespectful to the millions of people who suffer from life-threatening peanut allergies. The non-profit organization Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) condemned Uber Eats’ use of food allergies as humor in the ad, stating that it trivialized a serious medical condition. FARE’s CEO, Dr. Sung Poblete, revealed that she had spoken with Uber and they had agreed to edit out the reference to peanut allergies in the version that would air during the Super Bowl.
Uber Eats released a new version of the ad on Sunday, which no longer included the scene mocking peanut allergies. Instead, it featured a man who had forgotten how to “have a seat.” However, the original ad can still be found on an unlisted link on YouTube, albeit with a pseudo-disclaimer reminding viewers about the presence of peanuts in peanut butter.
While some people appreciated Uber Eats’ efforts to update the ad, others felt that it was not enough. One user on social media criticized the company for including the peanut allergy scene in the first place and stated that food allergies should not be made into a joke. Another person emphasized the seriousness of food allergies and how joking about them could have deadly consequences. They urged Uber Eats to take the issue seriously and stop playing around with people’s lives.
The controversy surrounding Uber Eats’ Super Bowl ad highlights the importance of sensitivity and awareness when it comes to serious medical conditions. While humor can be a powerful tool in advertising, it is crucial to consider the potential impact and consequences of making light of certain topics. In this case, the backlash serves as a reminder that even well-intentioned advertisements can miss the mark and offend a significant portion of the audience.