Paul Gregory's LJ - Rejoice!

Yay! MediaGuardian reports that the annoying Trident chewing gum ads with the guy in the comedy club have been banned.

500 people played the racism card, "offended by what they saw as the 'negative stereotype of black or Caribbean people and their culture'". Seemingly, black/Caribbeans don't all think that rants about chewing gum are appropriate routines for a comedy routine (it's funny because it's chew?). And they don't all turn to frantic proselytizing when introduced to a slightly less dull brand of gum. (Actually, I don't know exactly what part of Caribbean culture was allegedly being ridiculed, other than Talking Like On A Lilt Ad, and I'm probably focusing on the wrong part of the ad).

Sensibly, ASA didn't uphold bonkers complaints that it was insensitive to use the name of the Metropolitan Police's "black-on-black" gun crime initiative, pointing out that the Trident brand has existed for 40 years.

I should point out that the various varieties of Trident are actually quite good. I had tried them before I saw the crappy adverts, and liked them enough not to impose a knee-jerk ban. Boycotts are much easier when you don't like the product anyway.

Current active boycotts:
H&M (still not forgiven for making me sit through that Romeo & Juliet thing all those years ago).
Any "Product Of The Year" that infers in advertising that it is the only Product Of The Year, rather than being the winner in one of 32 categories.

And yes, anything I boycott is entirely based on pedantry and personal annoyance, rather than the actions of bottling companies in foreign parts using the same brand as a separate company which sells things in the UK.