Retailer issues an apology after it attracted 23 complaints to the ad watchdog as well as pushback from disappointed organisations
Written 4th November 2023 | Subscribe to our Christmas newsletter
The retailer issues an apology in response to criticism regarding a segment from its star-studded Christmas advertisement, where burning Christmas paper hats were said to resemble the Palestinian flag.
The British retailer had shared an image from its Christmas clothing and home advert on Instagram. The image showed red, silver and green paper hats tossed into a burning fireplace. The unfortunate positioning of the hats seemed to symbolize the Palestinian flag.
It Instagram post was accompanied with the caption: "This Christmas, do what you love... like saying no to paper hats" with the hashtag #LoveThismasNotThatmas - this is M&S 2023 Christmas slogan.
The advertisement encouraged individuals to prioritize enjoyment over conforming to festive traditions they might not genuinely appreciate, aligning with the central theme of its Christmas commercial. The post received a huge backlash, some social media users suggested the hats' colours reflected those of the Palestinian flag amid the escalating Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East. The conflict escalated on October 7th following a lethal attack by Hamas on Israel, prompting an ongoing military response from Israel. M&S have reverted back to their 2022 advert and released the following statement : 'We apologise for any unintentional hurt caused'
Image credit: Official statement from M&S
