Tesco responds to online abuse for featuring Muslim family in Christmas ad
The supermarket's 'inclusive' Christmas advert, which promotes diversity, has divided shoppers
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Britain’s biggest supermarket Tesco is facing backlash from certain customers vowing to boycott the supermarket chain over its new “inclusive” Christmas advert.
The advert, which features families from all walks of life, shows clips of a Muslim family celebrating the holiday, exchanging presents and cooking Christmas dinner.
The new advert is part of a series of five short videos set to be released in the run up to Christmas to promote diversity. Tesco ends the advert with the phrase “Everyone welcome”.
But some customers are far from happy about the inclusion of a Muslim family in an advert that celebrates a Christian holiday, also commenting on the supermarket selling halal meat in Tesco stores.
One customer tweeted: ”I object strongly to your anti- Christian Xmas advert how dare you politicise our festival in order to appease lefty political correctness. You have lost me as a customer now, you should rethink your advertising campaign, British people still live here.”
“Hey, Tesco. .. I don’t mind ONE BIT about your Xmas ads featuring Muslims wearing headscarves. .... I’m looking forward to your Eid ads. .. Featuring Christians – wearing crucifixes,” wrote another Twitter user.
“Tesco is trying to appeal to Muslims to buy their food at Tesco . So that raises a point. Muslims use my local Tesco but nothing is marked up as HALAL . So it follows all meat sold in Tesco must be HALA. WHY IS TESCO ALLOWED TO SELL HALAL MEAT TO CHRISTIANS,” wrote one irate user.
“Everyone is welcome at Tesco this Christmas and we’re proud to celebrate the many ways our customers come together over the festive season,” said the supermarket in an official statement.
“We want our customers to know that however they choose to do Christmas, and no matter what they need, we can help – Everyone’s Welcome at Tesco.”
The supermarket also said that it “will celebrate the many ways we come together at Christmas, and how food sits at the heart of it all”.
Many shoppers welcomed Tesco’s advert and see the marketing campaign as a representation of a modern, inclusive Britain.
“If you’re offended by the Tesco Christmas advert then PLEASE boycott the stores so I don’t have to see your racist faces when I’m choosing my Brussels sprouts,” wrote one supportive Tweeter.
“Imagine being so empty and full of hate that a Muslim family in a Christmas advert offends you,” said another Tweet in support of Tesco’s message of diversity.
The advert also features a black family, a same sex couple, a single parent family and a stressed mother ordering people “out of her kitchen”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments