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Tesco Flooded With Complaints After Christmas Advert Launch

Tesco Flooded With Complaints After Christmas Advert Launch

A double-vaccinated Santa starred in the Christmas ad.

Tesco's latest Christmas advert has been met with a massive backlash, after receiving a whopping 1,000 complaints.

The advert, which features a double-vaccinated Santa, has left a flock of viewers feeling outraged.

People have gone straight to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) to register their disapproval, who have sent a statement out responding to the panic.

The 90-second advert appears to spread a message of hope, after 2020's Christmas plans ground to a halt.

Queen's iconic hit Don't Stop Me Now has been given a festive makeover, complete with sleigh bells and a choir. The song plays throughout, as several different characters defeat the odds to celebrate Christmas with their families.

While one woman scoots home in the snow, a family with a broken-down car enjoy a seasonal snack of turkey drumsticks in the field next door. Despite the feel-good message, one scene in particular had people feeling a bit miffed.

The advert shows people beating the odds to celebrate Christmas. [
Tesco]

A newsreader announces that "Santa could be quarantined", as the camera zooms in on a little girl looking shocked.

Santa himself can then be seen making his way up an airport queue, proudly showing off his Covid passport. The crowd around him burst into a chorus of cheers.

A sample of viewers found themselves feeling that the scene was unnecessary, and took to the ASA to complain.

A newsreader questions whether Santa could be quarantined. [
Tesco]

The ASA addressed over 1,000 complaints about the advert being "coercive" and "[encouraging] medical discrimination on vaccine status".

"We are carefully reviewing these complaints to determine whether there are any grounds for further action", they stated.

Anti-vaxxers launched a #BoycottTesco campaign after the release of the ad. TV host Gillian McKeith led the disgruntlement on Twitter.

People threatened to #BoycottTesco over this scene. [
Tesco]

"#Tesco has a new Christmas advert that celebrates #discrimination & #segregation via a fully jabbed Santa who shows his medical status!" she raged.

"Who in their right mind in management thought this was a good idea? If you don't #BoycottTesco then you are #complicit".

In response to the boycott, Tesco told Tyla: "we respect everyone's views and we know that Christmas is a hugely important time for many of our customers and, after last year's events, this is true now more than ever.

We set out to create a campaign which took a light-hearted view on how the nation is feeling and it has been well-received by colleagues and customers.

We are still in the midst of a pandemic and the advert reflects the current rules and regulations regarding international travel".

Featured Image Credit: Alamy

Topics: Tesco, Christmas, TV And Film