A controversial political advertisement supporting Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked debate over its authenticity and effectiveness.
Fox News reported that the viral video, which portrays men declaring they are "man enough" to support Harris' presidential campaign, actually features professional actors and comedians rather than genuine supporters.
The 90-second ad, created by a grassroots group called Creatives for Harris, has garnered millions of views on social media platforms.
The video showcases six men presenting themselves as stereotypically masculine, claiming they eat "carburetors for breakfast" and aren't afraid of bears or women. These individuals express their support for Harris as a presidential candidate, asserting that backing a female leader is a sign of true masculinity.
Investigation into the ad's cast revealed that the men featured are not ordinary citizens but professional actors with varying levels of experience in the entertainment industry. The actors' backgrounds range from bit parts in Hollywood films to roles in low-budget productions and short videos.
Among the cast members are Winston Carter, Chris Gibson, Lanre Idewu, Tony Ketcham, Mike Leffingwell, and Wayland McQueen. Some of these actors have IMDB pages listing their previous work, while others are associated with comedy groups such as the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles.
The revelation that the ad used actors instead of genuine supporters has led to criticism and mockery on social media platforms. Many users expressed disappointment in the perceived inauthenticity of the campaign's approach.
Jacob Reed, the director behind the video and a former producer for "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" and "Funny or Die," has addressed the controversy surrounding the ad. Reed stated that while the video leans more towards sketch comedy than a traditional political advertisement, the message conveyed by the actors is genuine.
Reed wrote on Substack:
With the rise of role models like Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff on the national stage, I think the left is finally finding its footing on how to talk about masculinity — I think we're overdue for a redefinition of what it means to be a man in America and I hope this campaign can start to shape that conversation.
The director emphasized that the project was a volunteer effort and not officially authorized by any candidate or committee.
Critics of the ad have argued that it misses the mark in understanding and representing authentic masculinity. Some social media users pointed out that the use of actors undermines the ad's credibility and effectiveness in appealing to male voters.
Charles Gasparino, a senior correspondent for FOX Business, commented on the ad's approach:
It's so bizarre that those on the political left, who for years proselytized the hoi poi that men can be women and women can be men, that men can compete in women's sports because we are all genderless creatures, now think they have credibility to say what a real man is all about. Sorry you blew it years ago.
The "man enough" ad supporting Vice President Kamala Harris has become a topic of heated discussion. The use of professional actors in a supposedly grassroots campaign video has raised questions about authenticity in political advertising. This incident serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between politics, media, and public perception in modern campaigns.
