Mike Litwin on LinkedIn: On this very day 12 years ago, Kraft Heinz made a splash by posting a… (2024)

Day 27 of 🌈 30 Days of Pride! 🌈Today's selection is a 2010 McDonald's France commercial, which somewhat unexpectedly highlights issues around family, understanding, and inclusivity.What I find most interesting in this ad is how it subtly surfaces the experience many LGBTQ+ youth face in being open about their relationships. Notice the son's gentle smile in response to his father's comment—it spoke volumes about a generational gap in expectations and assumptions, and the silent struggles many LGBTQ+ youth endure.I want to think that things have gotten better and easier since 2010, and commercials like this helped play their part. That’s the eternal optimist in me.Thanks, Tom Donovan, for sending me this spot. It’s such a good one to include!

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Here’s a good role. And you'd get to work for Amy Luca, a good person. Good all around. Highly recommend for those that are interested-go for it and apply!

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Day 24 of 🌈 30 Days of Pride! 🌈Today's feature is a 2011 IKEA ad, the first to show a gay couple on Portuguese TV.I couldn't find a version with English subtitles, so I'll quickly summarize the dialogue:Set during the holiday season, the commercial depicts a couple cooking with their parents. The scene begins with a man and his boyfriend outside their apartment. The man tells the camera, "My father thinks he can't cook or dress properly." The next scene shows the men with the dad, who is cooking. "My mother would have preferred I married a doctor," he continues, "but they love visiting." The ad concludes with, "The best thing is that in this family, there's room for everyone," as the family expands the dinner table. What I love about this ad is the simplicity and clarity of the message: happiness and unity begin within the home, where everyone is welcomed and cherished.(The music is good, also.)From TBWA\Worldwide and IKEA, here's "A Festa."

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Day 21 of 🌈 30 Days of Pride! 🌈This film from Dove Men+Care was released to celebrate Father’s Day in 2015. It features thirteen real men from the moment they discover they will become dads. One of these real couples is Ian and Darryl Colvin from Port Moody, Canada.While I didn’t work on this particular film, it is part of the “Care makes a man stronger” global comms platform that I had the privilege of helping create with a fantastic group of people at Ogilvy UK and Unilever. It warms my heart to include Dove Men+Care in this series.

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Day 19 of 🌈 30 Days of Pride! 🌈The more I dig into this project, the more amazing stories I uncover. Here’s a fascinating one: a 1993 commercial for Politiken, a Dutch newspaper. It’s probably the first ad anywhere in the world to feature a gay couple so prominently. And wait, there’s more: Lars von Trier directed it.In the ad, a couple cooks a romantic meal at home. One sips wine, watching lovingly as his partner chops vegetables. Overcome with passion, they kiss, knocking vegetables to the floor as they move to the countertop. In the middle of it all, one asks if the other forgot the spice thyme, glancing back at the newspaper where the recipe is printed.The tagline, “The Living Newspaper,” sums it up, showing how the newspaper is an essential, vibrant part of everyday life.(Excuse the poor quality of the film, but I couldn't find a better version.)

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Day 18 of 🌈 30 Days of Pride! 🌈This Hyundai commercial, which initially aired in Sweden in 1999, broke away from the typical heterosexual machismo of car ads. Apparently, a 'safer' version was also made in response to backlash from the Hyundai sales team, but once the original caught on with the Swedish audience, Hyundai decided to stick with it.Despite limited exposure in the U.S., primarily via internet shares (much like this!), the commercial was well-received and won the "Gayest Commercial of All Time" Award in 2001 from gay.com-PlanetOut. One wonders what would win that award in 2024?From Hyundai Motor Sweden and Leo Burnett, this is “Toy Boy.”

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I am in awe of this new campaign—a big, bold, yet ridiculously simple idea with a captivating, flawless execution. More, please. https://lnkd.in/g-xEE5MQ

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Day 17 of 🌈 30 Days of Pride! 🌈I could write an entire essay about this ad's brilliance, but I’ll keep it short and sweet: it’s simple, effective, and unforgettable.Launched in 1998 for The Independent, it smartly uses reverse psychology by listing all the societal rules that control our lives. The ad then challenges us to break free from these norms, reflecting The Independent's non-conformist spirit. It wraps up with the bold statement, "Don't buy, don't read," alongside the newspaper's image.This ad won the Grand Prix at Cannes, so it felt fitting to feature it today, as this year's festival kicks off.

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🌈 Day 14 of 30 Days of Pride! 🌈Today’s example comes from Google and serves as a touching reminder that the internet can be a force for good. The ad highlights ItGetsBetter.org, a nonprofit organization dedicated to sharing uplifting and informative stories for LGBTQ+ youth.This ad, first aired in 2011, showcases the enduring impact of It Gets Better which continues its vital work 13 years later.From Google and BBH USA, here is "It gets better."

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