Honey Maid released a new graham crackers commercial this week and it is full of diversity.
The ad features, in order:
A gay couple
Another gay couple (an older gay couple? Hard to tell. Maybe it's just the one)
A dad with tattoos
A single father
An interracial family
A military family
Lots of graham crackers
The tagline says, "Honey Maid, everyday wholesome snacks for every wholesome family."
And we say: Great! It's about time advertisers start showing the types of families that actually exist. (But also: Great job, Honey Maid, this commercial made us feel all of the wonderful feels.)
Senior marketing director for Mondelez (which owns Honey Maid) Gary Osifchin said:
"We recognize change is happening every day, from the way in which a family looks today to how a family interacts to the way it is portrayed in media. We at Honey Maid continue to evolve and expand our varieties to provide delicious, wholesome products so they can be a part of everyday moments of connection in a world with changing, evolving family dynamics."
After seeing the reaction to Coco-Cola's Super Bowl commercial, in which people sang "America the Beautiful" in their native language, and Cheerio's recent ad featuring a biracial family (quick refresher: If you didn't see the reaction, it was heavy on the disgusting bigotry), some assumed Honey Maid would be hit with more of the same:
Uh oh gay, rocker, and black families in new Honey Maid commercial. Que conservative outrage about blah blah America downfall blah blah
? Tony Bowens (@lightthief) March 12, 2014And there were a few who took to Twitter and Facebook to spew hate:
Saw graham cracker commercial where kids had 2 daddies. I'm shocked -- but also angry -- at how the homosexual spirit has gone mainstream.
? Mike Garbus (@ekim53Mike) March 11, 2014Why are there gay guys on the Graham cracker commercial like no
? Kenneth. (@Kindi_Blanchard) March 11, 2014But it was actually hard to find the cries of boycott and other naysers. Because their messages have been mostly lost in a sea of positivity. And Honey Maid has been flooded with messages of love and gratitutde:
I just cried from a graham cracker commercial on account it was so cute and displayed what 2014 should look like ?? #ThisIsWholesome
? a'aryonna fontes? (@halleberry_2) March 12, 2014There is a gay couple with kids in the honeymade graham cracker commercial. I love how much our society is changing everyday :)
? Suz (@susie_dunlea) March 10, 2014YAASSS THE HONEY MAID COMMERCIAL WITH THE INTERRACIAL COUPLES AND THE GAY COUPLES
? Banshee (@C4tsby) March 12, 2014Did anyone see the honey maid commercial with the gay couple and their 2 kids? Advertising done right! ??
? Lydia Zeller (@theincrediblelz) March 12, 2014Just saw the new @HoneyMaidSnacks commercial featuring gay dads, metalhead parents, and diverse families. Awesome job, guys #thisiswholesome
? Domy (@Domorrigana) March 10, 2014Not to diminish from Honey Maid's praise (love this commercial, love everything they've said, love s'mores), but hopefully soon we won't even have to single out commercials for showing diversity. Because it will be the norm.