Uber Eats has edited its Super Bowl ad after facing criticism for making a joke about a man having a peanut allergy. The food delivery company said it had removed the scene that showed the man eating peanut butter and having an allergic reaction. The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) charity thanked Uber Eats for listening to the concerns of the allergy community and making the change.
Uber Eats’ Super Bowl Ad Features Celebrities and Memory Lapses
Uber Eats’ Super Bowl ad, titled “Don’t Forget to Remember Uber Eats”, features celebrities who have forgotten important things, such as their co-stars, their band names, or their passwords. The ad aims to promote Uber Eats as a convenient and reliable service that helps people remember what they want to eat.
The ad stars Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, who played Rachel and Ross on the hit sitcom Friends, David and Victoria Beckham, who were part of the pop group Spice Girls and the soccer team Manchester United, and rapper Lil Nas X, who forgot his login details for his online bank account.
The ad also featured a man who forgot that he was allergic to peanuts and ate a spoonful of peanut butter. The scene showed him having a severe allergic reaction, with his face swelling up and his voice changing. The ad then cut to a voice-over saying “Don’t forget to remember Uber Eats”.
Uber Eats’ Super Bowl Ad Sparks Outrage from Allergy Advocates
Uber Eats’ Super Bowl ad sparked outrage from allergy advocates, who said the ad was insensitive and inappropriate. They said the ad made light of a serious and life-threatening condition that affects millions of people, and that it could encourage bullying and discrimination against people with food allergies.
FARE, the largest private funder of food allergy research in the world, said it was “surprised and disappointed” to see Uber Eats use food allergies as a joke. FARE said it had contacted Uber Eats and asked them to remove the scene from the ad, and to apologize to the allergy community.
FARE’s CEO Lisa Gable said in a statement: “Food allergies are not a laughing matter. They are a serious medical condition that can cause anaphylaxis and death. We urge Uber Eats to respect the dignity and safety of people with food allergies, and to remove this offensive scene from their ad.”
Uber Eats’ Super Bowl Ad Gets Edited After Listening to Feedback
Uber Eats said it had listened to the feedback and had edited the ad to remove the scene with the peanut allergy. Uber Eats said it had no intention of offending anyone, and that it was sorry for any hurt it had caused.
Uber Eats shared the edited version of the ad on its social media accounts, and said it hoped people would enjoy the ad and its message. Uber Eats said it was proud to support the food industry and its workers, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.
FARE thanked Uber Eats for making the change, and said it appreciated the company’s responsiveness and willingness to listen. FARE said it hoped the incident would raise awareness and understanding of food allergies, and that it would work with Uber Eats and other companies to educate them about the issue.
FARE’s CEO Lisa Gable said in a statement: “We want to thank Uber Eats for listening to our concerns and editing their ad. We appreciate their quick and positive response, and their commitment to respect the food allergy community. We hope this will be a learning opportunity for everyone, and that we can work together to create a safer and more inclusive world for people with food allergies.”