Magnum Ice Cream Apologizes For Comparing Eating Ice Cream To Being Imprisoned For Being Gay

(image via Magnum Ice Cream)

After receiving a ton of heat on social media, Magnum Ice Cream has issued an apology for a Spotify ad in the U.K. that compared the 'guilty pleasure' of eating ice cream to gay people being imprisoned.

In the spot, a voiceover says, “A hug for my boyfriend—that’s my guilty pleasure. Because in my country, just a simple hug with the man I love could send me to prison for more than 10 years.”

The ad didn't specify which country by name.

Folks on social media clapped back calling the spot "racist" and "homophobic."

@MagnumIceCream your advert comparing the potential to be killed if you're gay to the guilty pleasure of eating a magnum is disgusting, racist and homophobic. Please withdraw it immediately.

— nell blane (@firegoat67) August 5, 2019

At the beginning of the backlash, a Magnum spokesperson told Newsweek that the aim of the spot was “to remind people that what is considered a guilty pleasure isn’t always what you would expect.”

A Magnum spokesperson has now issued a statement apologizing for the ad.

“Magnum has a history of championing LGBTQ+ rights and Pride Month is a moment when lots of us celebrate progress," read the statement. "We’re sorry for any offence caused by the advert, which aimed to bring awareness to the injustices people still face around the world."

Podcast: POSE Scores At 2019 Imagen Awards; Trans Student Kicked Out Of Christian College; Ice Cream Ad Goes Awry

In this week's podcast:

• POSE star MJ Rodriguez honored as "Best Actress" in TV series at 2019 Imagen Awards which recognize positive portrayals of Latinx people in the media

• New ad spot compares eating ice cream with hugging your same-sex boyfriend in countries where homosexuality is punishable with prison time (what???)

• Illinois becomes the 5th state to include LGBTQ history in public school curriculum

• A trans student is kicked out of his Christian college for having top surgery

• A masseur suing Kevin Spacey for alleged sexual battery says other alleged victims have contacted him

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report

Magnum Ice Cream Teams Up With GLAAD For Limited-Edition Pride Magnum Bar

In a collaboration with GLAAD for Pride Month, Magnum Ice Cream recently unveiled a rainbow covered ice cream bar with the slug line, "There is more pleasure in a diverse world #PleasureIsDiverse"

Via press release:

In support of diversity and inclusivity, MAGNUM and GLAAD are offering a limited-edition Pride MAGNUM bar, available through June at MAGNUM New York. MAGNUM is also making a donation to GLAAD to support its work across the country. The indulgent Pride bar is inspired by the MAGNUM brand's belief that there's more pleasure in a diverse world, and its commitment to stand up for everyone's right to find pleasure in being themselves.

We are celebrating #PrideMonth with @Lavernecox, @MagnumIceCream and more tonight. Follow along on @Snapchat!

👻👉 glaad pic.twitter.com/whhh4A8BVs

— GLAAD (@glaad) June 21, 2017

Joe Manganiello in "Good As Gold"

The uber-sexy and handsome Joe Manganiello stars in this 3 minute "epic heist" for Magnum Ice Cream.

Oh. My. Gawd.

The short film also stars Caroline Correa and features Zac Posen.