By Ashleigh SwanBusiness Reporter8 February 2024Image source, Uber Eats AdvertImage caption, The advert also features David and Victoria Beckham not being able to remember the name of the Spice GirlsUber Eats is facing backlash over its Super Bowl advert which seemed to make light of a man suffering from an allergic reaction to peanut butter. The Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) charity expressed surprise and disappointment at the company’s use of allergies as a joke. One individual, who is allergic to peanuts, described the ad as “disgusting, tone-deaf, and completely unnecessary”. The BBC has reached out to Uber Eats for a comment. “Don’t Forget Uber Eats” was introduced as the company’s Super Bowl advert, with millions of Americans expected to see it on Super Bowl Sunday. It features former Friends co-stars Jennifer Aniston and David Schwimmer, as well as David and Victoria Beckham. The advert revolves around the theme of forgetfulness. In one scene, the Beckhams are in their kitchen, with David saying to former Spice Girl Victoria, “Remember when you used to be a Pepper Lady?” to which she responds, “Wasn’t it the Cinnamon Sisters?” However, the controversy arose when it depicted a man, seemingly experiencing an allergic reaction with hives on his face and a swollen eye, asking, “There’s peanuts in peanut butter?” as he looks at the label of the jar. He is later heard saying, “Oh, it’s the primary ingredient.”Skip Twitter content, 1Allow Twitter content?This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.Accept and continueEnd of Twitter content, 1Dr Sung Poblete, head of the charity FARE, expressed concern over adverts that use food allergies for humor, as it could encourage bullying among children. “These types of commercials and types of jokes allow kids to think that there’s not going to be any harm and it’s going to be funny,” she said. She expressed her desire to educate Uber Eats about the experience of living with a food allergy in order to raise awareness. Anaphylaxis is defined by the NHS as a life-threatening allergic reaction that occurs very rapidly and can be caused by food, medicine, or insect stings. The ad tries to offset its humor by including a small disclaimer at the bottom of the screen: “Please please please do not forget there are peanuts in peanut butter.” However, JD Arland in Indiana, who is allergic to peanuts and soy, commented, “The text at the bottom makes it even worse.”Image caption, When JD Arland first saw the ad, he thought it was a jokeHe took to social media to express his frustration, stating: “Disgusting, tone-deaf, and completely unnecessary use of an allergic reaction in an ad.”I have been ruthlessly bullied throughout my life by this stereotypical depiction of anaphylaxis. Perpetuating this offensive joke is unacceptable Uber Eats.” Despite his anger, Mr Arland, who is a content manager for a sports website, told the BBC he saw an opportunity for education. “As somebody [with food allergies]… ordering delivery is really hard, because you have to not only know the restaurant, but how it’s being prepared, and you have to rely on the driver, or the app or the system to relay your special instructions to the restaurant.”So I’d love to see more of a commitment from Uber Eats to the food allergy community on their platform.”Super Bowl adverts have become an integral part of the NFL competition, with some viewers tuning in exclusively to see the ads. It is anticipated that over 100 million people will watch the game on Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers in Las Vegas.
