Soccer Star Jose Manuel Reina's Commercial Pulled After Being Deemed Homophobic And Racist (VIDEO)

A controversial Spanish ad starring a British soccer player has been yanked amidst accusations it was both homophobic and racist.

As Pink News is reporting, the commercials for multinational insurance firm Groupama Seguros feature Liverpool goalkeeper José Manuel Reina (known as Pepe Reina), dressed in full football gear, arriving at an African tribal meeting in a jungle with an interpreter.

Playing on the fact that the Madrid-born Reina's surname means “queen” in Spanish, the tribe’s chief reportedly tells the athlete, "You queen, me king," before crowning him with flowers.

Among those who condemned the ad was Simon Woolley, director of U.K.-based racial equality group Operation Black Vote. Wooley told The Guardian, "Firstly, how would the Spanish feel if the English stereotyped Spanish people as backward, stupid, and animalistic homosexuals? Secondly, what does this say about Pepe Reina?"

Though they agreed to withdraw the ad from Spanish TV, Groupama officials denied it was offensive, according to Fox News Latino. "Groupama Seguros does not consider that this advertisement contains either offensive nor any discriminatory content," authorities said in a statement.

Check out some of the best LGBT-themed commercials, many of them controversial, yanked or banned, below:

Comments

[BinghamLofts]

07:32 AM on 03/06/2012

if you think that's bad, mexic o and puerto rico are worst. just watch their entertainment shows. they still do blackface in comedy.

[UKVisitor]

01:50 AM on 03/05/2012

It's old fashioned and both racially and sexually insensitive, but it's hardly offensive is it? Storm in a teacup or what?

[dbrett480]

07:58 PM on 03/03/2012

I don't think it is homophobic. But it is definitely racist.

[wormel]

12:49 PM on 03/02/2012

That commercial was hysterical. and im a gay man and i am for gay rights and of course am not racist. There was nothing offensive about hat commercial. If we cant laugh at ourselves then whats the use people. The names have a meaning. what may be offensive is that my own community thinks its offensive. Give me a break!!! If ur gay and proud these things dont hurt you or ur lifestyle, doesnt demeen you at all. Any str8 guy who is called a queen and a fat dude thats says hes ur king hahha and u his queen would have the same expression on his face. it was hysterical. I think its the female gays who make all the fuss. Get a sense of humor people.

[Mateo Carrasquillo]

03:50 AM on 03/02/2012

It was a play on words in Spanish.

Looks like political correctness is as bad in England as it is here.

Not remotely racist or discriminatory in the least.

[wolfvampire]

05:40 PM on 03/02/2012

It is much worse in Europe. Hate speech laws and all. White progressives and Jews will dance in the streets once they have finally pushed it into place here in the US.

[UKVisitor]

01:52 AM on 03/05/2012

Jews?
What has this got to do with the poor Jews?
Leave 'em alone can't you?
I bet you look out the window, see that it's snowing and go "Grrr, those darn Jews again!"

[tucker1151]

02:47 AM on 03/02/2012

Well done, as usual, Dorito

[standish]

11:24 PM on 03/01/2012

The Doritos ads are hysterical!! And the African-American dude in the sauna........yowza!!

[Tommygun264]

03:47 AM on 03/02/2012

He could feed me chips anytime.

[carmenalex]

10:25 PM on 03/01/2012

It was a Spanish word play that had nothing to do with gays. Spanish is a completely different language than English, and some words do not mean the same thing in Spanish. The word queen in Spanish does not mean gay, it only means queen (as in wife of a king) ,he said queen because his name Reina means queen in Spanish. I know, I speak the language fluently.

[wormel]

12:54 PM on 03/02/2012

Ur right. And it was a funny play on words. If the viewer is let in on the joke. since it was in spanish the ad was funny. Even a person not knowing the language thinks its funny. Dont let activists stir up nonsense and pull ads for stupid reasons. We do this then National Geographic would be the most racist show on earth. Can u imagine the outcry of african americans when blk women dance around with breasts hanging and swinging? u dont. Re we less tolersable than anyone else?? im starting ot wonder.

[Sunwyn Ravenwood]

09:19 PM on 03/01/2012

Since I don't speak Spanish and haven't seen or heard the commercial I cannot have any idea as to whether the ad is racist or homophobic. I hope other people will have the good sense to refrain from commenting on something they don't know about too.

[Danilo-11]

08:36 PM on 03/01/2012

What the .....????? How in the h... is this homophobic? He's last name is "Queen" and they just made a joke out of his last name.

[LeeRose]

08:14 PM on 03/01/2012

Idiot

[StaceyKay6]

06:19 PM on 03/01/2012

What is a shame?

[Gn0sis]

03:13 PM on 03/01/2012

LOL are you kidding me? How in the world was that even remotely racist or homophobic?