In what was intended to be a light-hearted and star-studded commercial for the Super Bowl, Uber Eats has found itself embroiled in a controversy over a scene deemed insensitive by viewers. The food delivery service is now taking steps to address the backlash and has decided to cut the triggering scene from the commercial.
The commercial features a number of celebrities, from Friends stars to the sports star David Beckham and his wife Victoria Beckham. And it was a particular scene involving a man experiencing an allergic reaction to peanut butter that sparked outrage among viewers.
Uber Eats to Delete a Scene From Commercial Amid Backlash
Uber Eats released its 60-second Super Bowl commercial on February 6 titled, “Don’t Forget Uber Eats.” The commercial features the iconic Friends duo David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston, with Aniston comically forgetting that she worked alongside Schwimmer for a decade.
The joke continues as David Beckham and Victoria Beckham struggle to recall the Spice Girls, and Usher momentarily forgets his recent Super Bowl halftime performance. It also features many regular people making comic mistakes and forgetting some aspects of their routine for Uber Eats.
However, the scene that caused the outrage features a man eating peanut butter from a jar and subsequently experiencing an allergic reaction with visible rashes and swelling around his eyes, only to realize that there are peanuts in peanut butter. The scene has received criticism for making light of a life-threatening condition.
Food Allergy Research & Education voiced their disappointment with the commercial in a tweet, saying, “We’re incredibly disappointed by@UberEats’ use of life-threatening food allergies as humor in its Super Bowl ad— Life-threatening food allergy is a disease, not a diet.”
In response to FARE’s criticism, the food-delivery service has decided to “made a change to the ad that will air to the Super Bowl’s wide audience” and will remove the scene. Dr. Sung Poblete, CEO of FARE, shared that Uber Eats has agreed to edit out the reference to the peanut allergy in recognition of the seriousness of the issue.
People React to Uber Eats Super Bowl Commercial
The peanut butter scene in the Uber Eats commercial particularly included a disclaimer that said, “Please please please do not forget there are peanuts in peanut butter.” However, despite the inclusion of a small disclaimer urging awareness of peanut allergies, critics argued that it was insufficient to offset the negative impact of the scene.
Reactions to the commercial have been varied, causing a whirlwind on social media. While some stated that Uber Eats certainly needed to remove the scene, asserting, “Of course they do,” and criticizing the food delivery service for making light of something potentially fatal, others took a different stance.
Of course they do.
— Gordie (@Arrowhead_Chief) February 10, 2024
Seems like some people are sensitive to everything…
— MS Roberts (@Boberts227) February 10, 2024
Seems like a funny commercial.
Of all the things to get outraged about, I don't understand why the outrage over this commercial.
You remember one thing, by forgetting something else.
I thought this was a funny unique commercial and wish they'd just show the full unedited one.
— Gnik Sivart (@GnikJSivart) February 10, 2024
That really is one of the current problems with the world, no one understands a joke anymore and if one special snowflake is offended something must be done.
Uber Eats peanut butter gaffe shows how a Super Bowl ad can go awry https://t.co/j3LFORAaWJ
— Mike McLean (@1_canuck) February 10, 2024
Interesting. Nothing deserves outrage here.
I guess we can't have a good time these days.
When society can't laugh at itself anymore, its lost!
— William ⚡ Laurent (@WilliamLaurent3) February 10, 2024
I just found this funny. I write wacky comedy screenplays and I make jokes about all sorts of things. So it’s hard for me to be outraged.
— Jeanine Barone (@JCreatureTravel) February 10, 2024
I watched and couldn’t think of what people could be mad about. Definitely being babies.
— Ryan (@rcam_tv) February 10, 2024
Many argued against the removal, suggesting that people have become overly sensitive and unable to appreciate humor. “Seems like some people are sensitive to everything…” remarked one Twitter user, expressing concern about the state of comedy.
