Anti-LGBT trolls face backlash after targeting Pride campaign
Lovers of Absolut vodka have been fighting back against trolls on Facebook who attacked the brand for its Pride campaign.
The vodka brand worked in conjunction with Stonewall to launch a Snapchat filter which was available over the weekend.
Proceeds made from the use of the filter were donated towards Stonewall.
The brand advertised the exclusive filter on its Facebook page but it attracted some negativity from trolls.
The trolls complained that by celebrating LGBT+ rights they were “tainting” the Absolut brand.
One person wrote: “So much promotion for people to be gay. Even the BBC adverts. Like wtf. Religion teaching will always come first to the righteous before the acceptance of ones life.”
“See the same gay idiots abusing everyone on here… so much so equal rights hey! More like give us more rights because we are the selfish sexuality that cares about ourselves and no-one else,” another person wrote.
Others made more back handed complaints.
“One way to get people to be alcohol-free. Just have it associated with pride,” somebody wrote.
“I’m switching to beer,” another said.
The comments were nothing but offensive, as a different troll wrote: “Why do you taint the honored [sic] tradition of alchohol [sic] with queers. This truly riles me up.
“I’ll will never be buying absolut again. The sissyness [sic] levels are disguesting [sic]. Cant you all go drink wine like the rest of your ‘bum chumbs'[sic],” they added.
Absolut has condemned the discriminatory comments.
“Absolut has a long, proud history of celebrating and working with members of the LGBTQ communities, dating back 35 years. Openness, equality, freedom and self-expression have always been at the very core of our principles as a brand, and will continue to be,” said Adam Boita, Head of Marketing at Pernod Ricard UK.
Despite the vile homophobia, biphobia and transphobia that was expressed on the post, many more people stood up for the brand and its decision to celebrate Pride.
One person wrote: “‘omg the gays are everywhere stop shoving it down our throats’. Damn fucking right. It’s pride season. Get over yourselves you horrible homophobes … You get every day to be yourself and love who you want.”
“Wow this thread has opened my eyes. I really thought more people were accepting of people’s choices now. Sad really. One day,” another person added.
Many people just used the opportunity to mock the trolls and their backwards thinking.
One person quipped: “does anyone have a spare copy of the gay agenda? Cause I recently moved and I’ve lost mine…”
Somebody else summed up the entire contents of the post and put the trolls in their place.
“If you’re offended by love, then you need to take a good look at yourself,” they wrote.
Absolut has also launched a limited edition LGBTQ rainbow bottle to support the Equal Love campaign.
This is the third special-edition bottle that the company has designed to support the LGBTQ community.
Adam Boita, Head of Marketing at Pernod Ricard, said: “Absolut has a long, proud history of celebrating and working with members of the LGBTQ communities, dating back 35 years.
“Openness, equality, freedom and self-expression have always been at the very core of our principles as a brand, and will continue to be.”
