Entertainment
Proud mum of little boy wearing a dress in John Lewis advert slams backlash: ‘If you see something sexual in a advert with a young boy you have a problem’
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The proud mum of a young boy who features in a John Lewis advert wearing a dress has spoken out over the online abuse she has received.
Sam Parker, 35, was over the moon when she saw nine-year-old Reggie appear in the home insurance advert for the high-end brand, where he struts around the house wearing make-up, jewellery and heels.
However, the advert received many vile complaints and negative comments online.
Sam said she was disgusted by trolls who say boys shouldn’t wear dresses and was shocked by strangers who believe she ‘forced’ her son to do it to make money.
Sam said: ‘I am shocked it has caused so much controversy.
‘It’s laughable, how can anyone be so upset and offended over something fun and innocent?
Caption: Wonderful John Lewis ad featuring a boy in a dress gets the predictable backlash
(Picture:John Lewis)
Many of you have contacted us regarding the thinking behind our latest Home Insurance advert. Please find our response below: pic.twitter.com/lbTqFTSry2
— John Lewis & Partners (@JohnLewisRetail) October 14, 2021
‘But what disgusts me are complaints saying the advert is sexualising Reggie, with lipstick and ‘provocative’ dance moves.
‘If you see something sexual in a advert with a young boy – you have a problem.’
Although the family have dismissed most of the negative abuse aimed at them, Reggie’s protective parents, Sam and Lee, 38, say some comments have gone too far.
The mum-of-two said: ‘I’ve read comments from people with old fashioned mind sets who don’t want to see a boy in a dress.
‘I’ve seen ridiculous comments saying his ‘behaviour’ is destructive and spoilt – he is acting in an advert for home insurance.’
While there were plenty of people who liked the advert, some argued it depicted ‘male entitlement’ and ‘gender extremism’.
More: John Lewis
Others were annoyed that the clip appeared to suggest a child making a mess in the home would be covered by home insurance, as John Lewis’s accidental damage cover ‘means sudden, unexpected and visible damage which has not been caused on purpose’.
John Lewis recently responded to the backlash and posted a statement on social media, which read: ‘At John Lewis, we believe in children having fun and that’s why we chose this playful storyline for our latest advert. It’s designed to show the young actor getting carried away with his dramatic performance.’
Metro.co.uk has reached John Lewis for comment.
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