Conservatives, including anti-trans swimmer Riley Gaines and Fox News host Sean Hannity, are up in arms over a new Google Shopping ad starring nonbinary TikToker Cyrus Veyssi.
Veyssi, a digital creator who rose to prominence on TikTok during the COVID-19 pandemic, is known for sharing humorous family moments, LGBTQ+ allyship content, and beauty tips. According to their Instagram bio, Veyssi uses they/he pronouns.
In the new Google ad, Veyssi highlights using the platform to search for hydrating skincare products during the winter holiday season. The influencer shared the sponsored ad with their followers on Instagram on Monday.
Veyssi included the following caption:
"The winter uglies are officially canceled 🙅 Thanks to Google’s Nearby filter, I’m ready to pull off all my holiday looks 🌟☃"
You can see it below.
Conservatives were quick to lash out, calling the ad "woke" and in at least one case referring to Veyssi as a "groomer."
A similarly disgusted Sean Hannity featured transphobic swimmer Riley Gaines on his Fox program to discuss the ad, saying:
“Did Google ever hear of Bud Light? Did they not watch what happened to Bud Light?… Did they not ever hear the phrase, ‘go woke go broke’ ’cause it seems like they’re not getting it.”
Hannity was referring to the conservative uproar last year in response to a Bud Light campaign featuring transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney.
After partnering with Mulvaney to create a video featuring a custom beer can with her image, Bud Light’s parent company, Anheuser-Busch, faced backlash from anti-LGBTQ+ conservatives who called for a boycott.
Mulvaney endured widespread harassment and transphobia, both online and in person. Anheuser-Busch’s lukewarm response to the attacks and the boycott prompted the Human Rights Campaign to remove the company from its Corporate Equality Index.
Gaines, who noted she is happy that many companies are rolling back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, responded:
"No they didn't. If their goal was to make Americans frustrated and to lose money, then they did a fantastic job, it works every time."
‘Woke’ Christmas ad? Google responds to criticism over nonbinary influencer | Watch full video at san.com/cc/woke-chri...
Others defended the ad.
‘Woke’ Christmas ad? Google responds to criticism over nonbinary influencer | Watch full video at san.com/cc/woke-chri... Some ppl are such idiots.
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— A. D-Pierce ( @nowhat.bsky.social) December 13, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Google later responded to the controversy with the following statement, standing by the ad and Veyssi's involvement:
"Everyone likes to find a good deal and save money. That's why we're promoting Google Shopping as the best way to do that. To put it in perspective, this was a single sponsored Instagram post, representing a fraction of a percent of a much wider Google Shopping campaign."
That's one company with principles.
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