The billboard uses the trademark line of Tui’s other advertising campaigns and reads,”Dad’s new husband seems nice. Yeah right.”
A topical spin on an age-old situation and a nod to the passing of the Same Sex Marriage Bill, it doesn’t appear to have impressed many punters.
Online commentary on the billboards was mostly negative, with some seeing the funny side and others not.
Facebook-user Sophie Lockwood was definitely unimpressed by the latest advert she saw.
”I have always had a good giggle at your billboards as I drive down the Hutt motorway each morning, but I am pretty disgusted by the one I saw yesterday. Homophobia in this day and age? Really??”
Tui’s marketing manager, William Papesch, made a statement regarding the latest billboard.
”Our intention with the current Tui Yeah Right billboard ‘Dad’s new husband seems nice’ was to highlight the common situation or uncertainty experienced when someone’s parent remarries.
“Given the recent passing of the Same Sex Marriage Bill in Parliament, this ‘Yeah Right’ line is a topical spin at the age-old situation of a parent’s new partner.”
However Luke Frogley said the joke was a harmless play on a person getting a new step-parent.
‘‘This joke would traditionally say ‘‘wife’’, as in the person isn’t happy with their Dad’s new partner,’’ he posted.
‘‘However, now that marriage is open to homosexual couples, so too will be situations where Dad gets a new husband. The joke is more a reflection on recent events, and if anything, promotes gay marriage because we no longer have to say ‘‘Dad’s new Civil Partner seems nice’’.
As of August 19th, when the Same Sex Marriage Bill comes into effect, marriage equality will be open to anyone. Shouldn’t that equality extend to humour? Had the sign read,”Dad’s new wife seems nice. Yeah right” It wouldn’t be taking any stick at all. What do you think?
Image: Stuff.co.nz
