Procter & Gamble, which consistently earns praise with a 100 rating in the Human Rights Campaign Equality Index, is being blamed for a trans and intersex-phobic Youtube commercial for their Always feminine pads. But according to an Always representative, P & G has nothing to do with it.
The commercial features several drag artists looking overly distraught and crying to the standard, “Cry Me a River.” The text reads:
“There are some people who’d just love to have a period. Let alone a happy one. Have a happy period. Always.”
Firstly, the “commercial” seems to have confused drag performers with Male-to-Female (MTF) transgender people. Trans women are not men in dresses.
Secondly, mocking the infertility of trans women should not be used as a marketing gimmick by one of the world’s largest corporations.
I spoke with Velvet Gogol Bennet who is the Feminine Care External Relations representative and she was quite adamant that P & G had absolutely nothing to do with this ad. She does not know where it came from, but insists that Always and Procter & Gamble were no part of it.
“This video was made without our knowledge, consent, or permission. Always is a brand that believes in and stands for women. It is against Always’ deepest principles to denigrate anyone and we would not endorse this kind of advertising”
Ad Agency is Leo Burnett UK.
http://adsoftheworld.com/media/tv/always_crying
Advertising Agency: Leo Burnett, London, UK
Creative: Jim Thornton
Director: Ben Jones
Production Company: Helimax Films
DoP: George Steel
Producer: Sherry Collins