Cheltenham Festival 'Ladies' Day' Commercial Slammed As Transphobic (VIDEO)

A controversial new ad for an Irish betting company will continue to air despite a flurry of complaints decrying the clip as transphobic.

Produced by Paddy Power, the "Ladies' Day" commercial asks viewers to identify the transgender women among a crowd of fashionably-dressed female racing fans at the Cheltenham Festival, The Guardian is reporting. "Spot the stallions from the mares," a narrator suggests.

Paddy Power has received over 500 complaints on the clip, but officials are defending it as "simply a bit of mild mannered fun in the run up to the Cheltenham Festival," and note that several transgender performers willingly participated in its production, according to Pink News.

U.S broadcasters ESPN have nonetheless scrapped all plans to air the new ad. "We've reviewed the commercial in question, and have made an internal editorial decision that it will not run on ESPN," an official noted.

Meanwhile, festival organizers have responded by asking viewers to offer their own opinions on the ad. "Many viewers have found the advert – which was broadcast on SkySports in Ireland & the UK this weekend -– in poor taste," they note on their official website. "Some people might find it offensive. Some people thought it was just a bit of a laugh. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!"

Check out some other LGBT advertisements from around the world below:

Comments

[nvgargola69]

08:53 AM on 02/29/2012

Those kids are confused because they have ignorant parents who are unable to explain to them anything correctly. We should spend more time teaching about love than hate. That's why this world is the way it is.

[thereisonlyoneparty]

10:53 PM on 02/26/2012

I find nothing wrong with that advertisement, and I therefore conclude that it is perfectly acceptable and no one should be offended.

[michelleobamaok]

10:02 AM on 02/26/2012

IF THEY TOOK all of these bad chemicals out of agriculture, lawn and household products, and vaccines, perhaps many of these cases would simply recede.

[michelleobamaok]

10:00 AM on 02/26/2012

DON'T LAUGH, DON'T LOOK. Or simply DON'T LOOK.

The new transgender and LGBT code of societal ethics.

[DanaLane]

06:55 AM on 02/25/2012

People don't understand how dangerous this is. There are sites dedicated to putting transgender and transsexual women at risk for violence.

[michelleobamaok]

10:00 AM on 02/26/2012

Where?

[Fenrir Lokison]

02:44 PM on 02/22/2012

"...note that several transgender performers willingly participated in its production..."

Hmmmmmmm. Apparently they though it would be fun, funny, and inoffensive. Maybe they wanted to learn is their current way of dress, mannerisms, and makeup allowed them to disguise themselves as the opposite sex, and from the numbers, make the right adjustments if any?

Sounds like a win, win to me.

[Christina-Xena]

06:22 PM on 02/22/2012

The word "performers" should have been a clue of both the type of "transgender" they choose (drag queens most likely) and the attitude of those making this commercial.

The transformational woman, i.e. transsexuals within the transgender community, do not consider themselves, and are not, PERFORMERS, i.e. acting out some nonreal roles in life. They ARE woman!

Problem is that in REAL LIFE that compared to many fully transitioned (socially and medically) trans-womanincluding those having FFS ( Facial Feminization Surgery) many natal/born woman couldn't pass well as they do as woman, and some are quite beautiful.

Besides, inviting viewer to deconstruct someone's gender/sex by looking hard at them is totally demeaning to every woman (and man) as it means that we shouldn't take people at "face value" i.e. the person we intend to present ourselves as in public. It encourages mentally and verbally challenging anyone that we want to that they aren't who they present themselves to be. It's arrogant and invasive (to one's privacy, decency and respect) when it's done in real life.

Next the litte Stallon/Mae sex-antics is quite bias and ignorant as well. Many TSs are fully functioning as female sex partners so the stereotype being promoted is all "transgender" people are really just men in disguise, and have penises.

But pay enough, and an advertiser can get drag queens or crossdressers to show up and play demeaning roles.

That a lose-lose to me.

[campcranston]

09:45 AM on 02/23/2012

I think the word performers is in reference to the fact that they are actors. It's not all coded.

[RavingCritic]

10:35 AM on 02/22/2012

What is so offensive? I have friends who do Drag and they don't get offended off of ads like this using Drag makeup and hair etc...It was humorous and a catchy Ad. If they were saying mean things about Transvestites then that's something to get mad about, but they weren't in this Ad. Oh well....can't please everyone all the time!

[DanaLane]

06:53 AM on 02/25/2012

Men who do drag...think about that for a bit.

[JanineT]

06:58 AM on 02/27/2012

Drag has nothing to do with trans. Drag performers are gay men. Transsexual women are women. We don't play dress up. Personally, I'd rather attend a tea party rally than go see a drag show

[Marla Louise]

05:45 PM on 03/01/2012

Sigh, you are so wrong in so many ways.

First, drag IS a form of trans expression. Yes, it's a different form than transgendered expressions, bigendered expressions, transseuxal expressions, gender bending expressions, boi expressions, crossdressing expressions, butch expressions, etc. etc. etc. but it is still a trans expression.

Second, drag performers are not necessarily gay. Yes, it's part of the gay culture, but it certainly is not limited to gays.

Finally, as for transseuxal women, I've known some who obviously are women (like my god daughter), and I've known others who are obviously not and others that it's not a relevant statement.

I would suggest you consider people as individuals instead of imposing stereotypes on them. Generalizing groups can be of value, but imposing those generalizations on the individuals is pretty clueless.

[samlupowitz]

09:45 AM on 02/22/2012

Funny as all hell!

[notaleftie]

09:23 AM on 02/22/2012

these gay boys and girls r getting a little testy, ond't ya think????????????????????/

[DaveSmith]

09:15 AM on 02/22/2012

What the heck is "transphobic?" We seem to be making up stuff now. It was funny but I can understand why ESPN has decided not to air it. Nothing good would come out of showing it.

[Ruben Santiago]

08:51 AM on 02/22/2012

Now, that is funny!

[Rooster Coburn]

09:59 AM on 02/22/2012

I agree, faved!

[lucia13]

08:45 AM on 02/22/2012

Lighten up people !!!! Laughter is the best medicine !!!! Laugh a little and have a great day!!

[Gaus]

08:22 AM on 02/22/2012

This makes a strong case to show the world that we need independent localized media along side of giants like ESPN, CNN, or even Huffington Post...I lived in UK and I can tell you this is not offensive even to the transgenders there and I also spent some time in Houston Texas a city with a considerable population of transgenders, living amongst bunch of Chuck Norris wanabes , there in we might have a problem Houston...I suggest that these big networks should sell their contents to local distributors and let them choose what commercials they air in their locality...Or then again lets sensor everything including The Cooking channel some of those foods are offensive to some and not to mention showing of the dead animal parts that we call steak to young sensible minds... :-)

[teverittny]

07:56 AM on 02/22/2012

People, stop being OFFENDED by everything!! This is funny and if you don't think so it's YOUR problem. Grow up!

[Chante Ayona Hill]

07:33 AM on 02/22/2012

I thought it was a little funny. Offensive, not really. If what they're doing is offensive to transgender people. Then shouldn't men dressing and deceiving people to think they are women be offensive to women? What I'm saying is I don't think either instance is offensive. Just people expressing themselves and having fun. I felt no spite or malice in this ad.

[Dark Lesson]

07:58 AM on 02/22/2012

If they're transgender they're NOT men. How hard is it to wrap your mind around that?!

[michelleobamaok]

09:55 AM on 02/26/2012

THEY ARE MEN! Take away their chemicals, and the jig is up.