Gillette advert sparks debate

A Gillette razor commercial supporting #MeToo movement and calling on men to change their behaviour has triggered heated arguments online.

The two-minute ad, released on Sunday, features images of harassment and brutality, urges men to end a culture of “toxic masculinity” and turns the brand’s 30-year slogan into a question: “Is this the best a man can get?”

It earned praise from those who see it as brave, with the Icelandic ministry of foreign affairs paying tribute in a tweet. But, like the #MeToo movement, it was slated by men who felt insulted, some even vowing to swear off Gillette.

On YouTube the ad was “liked” only 67,000 times but disliked 315,000 times.

“So nice to see @Gillette jumping on the ‘men are horrible’ campaign permeating mainstream media and Hollywood. I for one will never use your product again,” actor James Woods tweeted.

Pankaj Bhalla, Gillette’s US brand director, pushed back. “This is an important conversation happening, and as a company that encourages men to be their best, we feel compelled to take action of our own,” he said. “We are taking a realistic look at what’s happening today, and aiming to inspire change by acknowledging that the old saying ‘Boys Will Be Boys’ is not an excuse.” –

So nice to see @Gillette jumping on the ‘men are horrible’ campaign permeating Hollywood