A viral political advertisement supporting Vice President Kamala Harris has sparked controversy and mockery on social media.
Fox News reported that the ad, which showcases men declaring they are "man enough" to support Harris' presidential campaign, actually features professional actors and comedians rather than genuine supporters.
The 90-second video features six men who present themselves as tough, boasting about eating "carburetors for breakfast" and claiming they're not afraid of women or bears. However, it's been discovered that these supposed "supporters" are actually actors, some with Hollywood film credits and members of an improv comedy group.
The ad's authenticity came into question when viewers began investigating the identities of the men featured. It was discovered that the cast includes Winston Carter, Chris Gibson, Lanre Idewu, Tony Ketcham, Mike Leffingwell, and Wayland McQueen, all of whom have IMDB pages listing their acting credentials.
Some of the actors have appeared in minor roles in Hollywood productions, while others are associated with the Upright Citizens Brigade, a well-known comedy troupe. For instance, Tony Ketcham, who plays an elderly man in the ad, has credits in films such as "Ghost World" and an episode of "The X-Files."
Lanre Idewu, portraying a gym enthusiast in the video, has an extensive acting resume and has even posted photos with Democratic officials, including President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
The revelation that the ad featured actors instead of genuine Harris supporters has led to a new wave of criticism on social media platforms. Many users expressed their disappointment and skepticism about the authenticity of the campaign.
One social media user commented, "Everything they do is fake." Others pointed out that the use of actors demonstrates a lack of understanding of how "actual men speak" and questioned the campaign's ability to connect with real voters.
Jacob Reed, the creator of the ad, has defended the video's approach. He stated that while the ad is "more sketch comedy than political ad," 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.
He further emphasized that the project was created by volunteers for a group called Creatives for Harris, a grassroots organization of producers, writers, and ad executives supporting the Vice President.
Critics argue that this incident may harm Harris' campaign by undermining its credibility and authenticity. However, supporters of the ad maintain that its comedic nature was intentional and that it successfully draws attention to important discussions about masculinity and political support.
In conclusion, the pro-Harris advertisement featuring actors posing as manly supporters has sparked controversy and criticism. The revelation of professional actors in the video has led to accusations of inauthenticity. The ad's creator defends it as a comedic approach to political messaging, but the incident highlights challenges in creating genuine campaign content.
