Gossip and schadenfreude are staples of the human condition, so it’s not surprising that social media sites are in high dudgeon over an apparent sexist ad for Peloton stationary exercise bikes. The indignant media storm is so severe that the company has suffered stock losses measured in the billions. Internet media attacks on the company are a red flag for a phenomenon afoot that instead of studying and understanding an inadvertent incident that appears to have sexist overtones, the reflexive response is to destroy the source. The commercial is a Christmas ad suggesting that a $2,000 exercise bike would make a good gift for a husband to give a wife that has probably been daydreaming about getting one for years. It’s a piece of equipment that is essentially identical to those found in gym spinning classes where members spin and sweat under the leadership of a spin coach. The ad says more about Madison Avenue and television advertising than it does about apparent institutionalized sexism. It’s probably true that the woman appears meek and grovelingly grateful for the gift but that’s on the producers of the ad not the company selling the product. Don’t forget that in 1961 FCC head Newton Minnow stated that television and its advertising were becoming a voyage to the bottom of the Bell Curve. He described television and television commercials as a “vast wasteland”. If you want to see a bad TV commercial watch the one for GMC’s Denali truck. In the ad a wife or significant other gets her mate cheap sunglasses. He then trumps her gift with expensive trucks for both suggesting that her financial resources pale compared to his. He got the blue one for himself but she wants it so she blocks it with her body indicating that access could be denied if he doesn’t relent and let her have her way. This looks like body-language sexism. She is an apparent, spoiled sex object messaging that sex will be withheld if the mate doesn’t play ball; “whatever Lola wants, Lola gets”. Minnow would probably swallow his face if he saw what television and television advertising have become. One ad depicts the Idaho Spud Man hijacking a car with a student in it. Ban those Potatoes! Peloton may emerge better off in the long run because many more eyes will be on its niche product. And after all, everyone benefits from exercise.
Hi, I had this topic last Friday.. please jump in and add your thoughts... http://www.politicalforum.com/index.php?threads/peloton-ad-sparks-outrage-stock-drop.565340/
My wife does triathlons, so maybe that clouded my perception, but what I saw in the commercial was a wife that was already an amateur athlete and trained practically every day anyway, so the husband bought her a nice training bike. Big deal. The United States is filled with goobers who find offense with practically everything.
Sure she looks good. Most people couldn't look that god without some form of exercise. Peloton is top drawer equipment.
Husband buys wife Peloton. She shrieks and reeees about it. He returns the Peloton and buys himself a sex robot with the refund. This is the ad we all really want to see.
Will we be seeing a similar ad? One where the wife is giving the husband an exercise bike? No? Then the ad is sexist. Of course it is. You don't give your wife an exercise bike as a gift. Not unless that's what she's told you she wants, and the commercial strongly suggests this was a surprise for the wife. What husband does that? The message couldn't be more obvious if you shouted it: DON'T GET FAT!
I prefer Nordic Track: However, exercise is key to looking and feeling better no matter what you use.
I always enjoy seeing women walking there dogs , but I guess that's just me thinking we live in one heck of a country
Yeah I mean it was obvious she didn't want it because she got up at 6 am to ride it everyday and made videos doing it every day. She didn't look happy at all. Probably killed her husband at the end of the commercial. Plus, everyone knows that not-fat people can all run marathons naturally and don't need to exercise.
Speaking of Peloton... weeeee doggies is that company's business model going gangbusters right now. I used to join the live studio rides, and there'd be like 4 or 5 thousand other riders connected. Now, you see class sizes upwards of 20,000. The COVID has turned the world into a bunch of couch potatoes, and Peloton is doing their part to fight the flab. Go Peloton!
good point. my wife is going nuts without her treadmills at the gym. and its only been 8 days. she hates running outside. I like to bike and don't mind the heat. especially since I'm working from home, I can do 8am rides or go in the evening. right now shes exploring some new yoga instead, I better not suggest peleton.
Talking about exercise equipment, up pops Trump. The Orange Man occupies the penthouse suite in many a head, not a dime in rent does he pay.