Uber Eats was forced to edit its pricy Super Bowl commercial after it triggered a bunch of viewers with peanut allergies. No, seriously.
Here’s how NBC News described the commercial:
Uber Eats, a division of the ride-sharing company, on Feb. 6 debuted its 60-second 2024 Super Bowl commercial, centered on the running joke of forgetfulness. The spot, which marks Uber Eats’ fourth year in the Super Bowl, features David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston (who forgets she worked with him on “Friends” for 10 years); David and Victoria Beckham (who fail to remember the Spice Girls), as well as Jelly Roll trying to scrub tattoos off his face and Usher blanking on the fact that he just performed the halftime show.
The ad, from creative ad agency Special Group, also shows regular people making comically absent-minded goofs. But one scene was decidedly unfunny for many: A man eating a spoonful of peanut butter from a jar — who has broken out in hives and whose left eye has swollen shut in an allergic reaction — glances down at the food label and remarks, “There’s peanuts in peanut butter? Oh, it’s the primary ingredient.”
NBC News
Food Allergy Research & Education, which is apparently a real organization, released a statement condemning Uber Eats.
“We’re incredibly disappointed by @UberEats’ use of life-threatening food allergies as humor in its Super Bowl ad. The suffering of 33M+ Americans with this condition is no joke. Life-threatening food allergy is a disease, not a diet,” they wrote. “Enough is enough.”
JD Arland, a content manager for a sports website, drew international attention after he posted a scathing review of the Uber Eats ad on social media.
“Disgusting, tone-deaf, and completely unnecessary use of an allergic reaction in an ad,” his X screed read. “I have been ruthlessly bullied throughout my life by this stereotypical depiction of anaphylaxis. Perpetuating this offensive joke is unacceptable.”
The non-profit’s chief executive officer, Sung Poblete, released a statement saying Uber Eats had removed the peanut butter portion of the Super Bowl ad because of the backlash. That, or the insane indignation from the peanut allergy crowd just gave them a bad rash.
“I want to thank you, our community, for speaking up so that our voices could be heard as we change the way life-threatening food allergies are perceived,” Poblete said. “It’s personal for all of us.”
The woke and fragile crowd ascribes to the notion that America should be a humorless society that subsists on jelly sandwiches sans the Jif.
“Just make sure the undertones of the humor don’t poke fun at a life threatening disability,” he wrote on X. “There’s a fine line between humor and hate. The best comedians find it.”
Who knew the peanut allergy crowd was so sensitive? I reckon it could’ve been worse. I once made a joke about the gluten-free crowd on my radio show. It turns out those folks don’t have much tolerance for humor — or wheat.
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