Tampa, Florida – Following the release of its Super Bowl ad, Uber Eats faced criticism and backlash over a scene that poked fun at people with peanut allergies. The ad featured several celebrities, including Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, David Beckham, and his wife, Victoria, as well as rapper Jelly Roll and Usher. However, it was the scene where a man with hives and a swollen eye eats from a peanut butter jar that sparked outrage among social media users who saw it as insensitive to those with life-threatening allergies.
The nonprofit group Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) denounced the ad, stating that it’s disappointing to see life-threatening food allergies being used as humor. Dr. Sung Poblete, CEO of FARE, revealed that she had spoken with Uber and that the company had made changes to the ad, editing out the reference to peanut allergies before it aired during the Super Bowl.
The updated ad now features a man who has forgotten how to “have a seat,” a drastic change from the original scene that sparked controversy. However, the original ad still exists at an unlisted link on YouTube, with a pseudo-disclaimer included that reads, “Please please please do not forget there are peanuts in peanut butter.”
Despite the changes made by Uber, some critics argue that simply updating the ad is not enough. They stress that food allergies are not a laughing matter and that making light of them can have serious consequences.
The backlash against the ad has sparked a broader conversation about the portrayal of serious health issues in advertising. Critics argue that humor should not come at the expense of those dealing with life-threatening conditions, and that companies should be more mindful of the message they are sending to the public.