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Tesco Christmas advert 2021: Anti-vaxxers threaten to boycott supermarket over Santa vaccine pass

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Anti-vaxxers have taken to social media following the recent release of Tesco’s 2021 Christmas advert, threatening to boycott the supermarket over the inclusion of a vaccine pass. 

The trailer shows Santa Clause threatened with the prospect of quarantine – a reference to lockdown restrictions keeping many family and friends apart last year. 

However, Santa shows a Covid pass to a border guard, meaning he can keep going with his travel plans and deliver presents around the world.

The news sparks a joyful reaction in the clip, but some viewers at home weren’t impressed with the inclusion of the Covid vaccine pass. 

Over the weekend, anti-vaxxers launched a #BoycottTesco campaign on social media in response to festive clip.

One of the most vocal social media users was Gillian McKeith, who wrote: ‘#tesco has a new Christmas advert that celebrates #discrimination & #segregation via a fully jabbed Santa who shows his medical status!’ 

The new advert sees Santa flashing his vaccine pass (Picture: Tesco)

She added: ‘Who in their right mind in management thought this was a good idea? If you don’t #BoycottTesco then you are #complicit.’

Another added: ‘Did I really just see a Christmas TV ad on ITV for Tesco to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop me Now’ hit with families having fun / flying abroad etc & then a guy smiling flashing up his smart phone with a COVID passport on it?? Omg I am NEVER shopping at Tesco again #boycottTesco not ok.’

‘Unacceptable and despicable. HUGE mistake on your part,’ one more said.

#tesco has a new Christmas advert that celebrates #discrimination & #segregation via a fully jabbed Santa who shows his medical status! Who in their right mind in management thought this was a good idea? If you don’t #BoycottTesco then you are #complicit pic.twitter.com/RcR8EsJC42

— Gillian McKeith (@GillianMcKeith) November 14, 2021

Did I really just see a Christmas TV ad on ITV for Tesco to Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop me Now’ hit with families having fun / flying abroad etc & then a guy smiling flashing up his smart phone with a COVID passport on it?? Omg 😳 😱 I am NEVER shopping at Tesco again #boycottTesco ✊🙅‍♀️

— Corinne Coles (@CorinneColes5) November 13, 2021

I have used @Tesco my entire life, I will never shop in one of their stores again unless a formal apology is issued #BoycottTesco

Keep politics our of corporations! We must boycott Tescohttps://t.co/HsSKSLU7L6

— Mr Free Speech – Centrefuter – Anti-Pfizer (@Centrefuter) November 14, 2021

Vaccine passports being normalised by Tesco are a new low, and worse by showing Father Christmas with one this is messaging for children to brainwash them into thinking it’s okay. It’s a reminder that this is not over yet.#BoycottTesco

— Gilbert Jackson (@youth_unheard) November 14, 2021

I am about to go and do my Weekly Shop.

Normally this takes place in @Tesco because of convenience in proximity to my home but today and going forward I agree with @org_scp

Other Supermarkets will get my money, I’m just one person but it is a start.#BoycottTesco

— Dissent Media (Official Account) ♿ (@DisabledJourno) November 14, 2021

Not everyone using the hashtag was critical of the advert, though, with some seeing the positive side of the boycott.

‘All the anti-vaxxers are boycotting Tesco because of a Covid passport in the ad, so the rest of us don’t have to risk being near them when shopping?’ one Twitter user said.

Tesco is one of the latest supermarkets to release their Christmas adverts in the run up to December 25. So far, retailers such as John Lewis, Marks and Spencer, and Aldi have all put their festive ads out for all to see.

The Tesco Christmas advert also focuses on a family feast (Picture: Tesco)

The premise of the Tesco ad comes from Tesco’s Christmas 2021 Report, which found 86% of the nation claim that nothing will stop them from having a joyful Christmas this year.

Set to Queen’s track Don’t Stop Me Now, the clip begins outside of a Tesco store, with a customer set on trying to make sure she has everything prepared for Christmas.

Alessandra Bellini, Chief Customer Officer at Tesco, said: ‘We know that Christmas is a hugely important time for many of our customers and, after last year’s events, that is truer now than ever.

More: Covid vaccine

‘Whenever we set out to create our campaigns, we want to be sure that we capture how the nation really feels and reflect that. Our research revealed that people are looking forward to meaningful get-togethers with their loved ones again and given the backdrop of canceled plans of last year they won’t let anything stop them from having a proper celebration this year.’

She added: ‘We hope our joyful festive ad will resonate and put a smile on people’s faces as we prepare for a season of well-deserved celebrations. After all, this Christmas, nothing’s stopping us,’ she added.

Metro.co.uk has reached out to Tesco for comment.

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