Google’s recent Christmas advertisement featuring nonbinary beauty influencer Cyrus Veyssi has sparked significant backlash and calls for a boycott. In the ad, Veyssi, adorned in feminine attire and makeup, discusses combating dry skin during the winter season using Google Shopping to find moisturizing products. Critics have labeled the ad as excessively “woke” and inappropriate for the festive period. Conservative commentator Oli London criticized the ad, stating, “Google launches WOKE Christmas campaign featuring man wearing women’s clothing complaining about his skin.”
The advertisement has drawn comparisons to previous marketing missteps, such as Bud Light’s partnership with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney, which led to a significant decline in sales and ongoing boycotts. Despite the criticism, Google has defended its campaign, emphasizing that it features a diverse range of influencers and aims to promote Google Shopping as an efficient way to find deals and save money.
This controversy highlights the challenges companies face when incorporating social issues into their marketing strategies, as they risk alienating portions of their consumer base. The effectiveness of boycotts against large tech companies like Google remains uncertain, given their dominant market positions and the limited alternatives available to consumers.
For a visual perspective on this issue, you may find the following video informative:
Google: “What should we do for our Christmas ad?”
Normals: “Maybe a family sharing gifts around a tree?”
Google: “Sorry, best we can do is a dude prancing around in women’s clothing.” pic.twitter.com/1fmhooFsIq
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) December 11, 2024
Image: Screenshot
