I’m ashamed of myself. I was swept up in my quest to market a new video game and did the unthinkable. I broke the first rule of online video advertising.
“Don’t turn women into hamburgers and eat them just for a laugh”
Oh sure, it seems innocent enough at first glance… the idea of a famished gamer having just endured a brutal throw down with an enormous black and red evil Genie wishing that his girlfriend would turn into a burger, and then eating her.
But what about his girlfriend’s feelings? And what about the feelings of women around the world who may be concerned that men will see this trailer and objectify them as nothing more than fast food? Burgers? Fries? Spicy dollar menu burritos? – to be magically transformed and eaten whenever their significant other has the munchies?
Sure, her boyfriend was hungry, and sure, you might argue that she deserved it. She comes home from work all angry that he had been lounging around all day playing video games and she starts yelling at him. That can be scary to a young man, and it’s always embarrassing to get yelled at in front of a Genie.
But instead, the three of them could have talked it out and maybe ordered a pizza or some Chinese instead, right? I don’t know if Genies like Chinese, but according to this video they enjoy burgers.
I believe my involvement in this project was sexist, and I apologize. My sincere wish is that nobody watches this video and as a result sees women as nothing more than a quick snack.
