Uber Eats Changes Super Bowl Commercial After Backlash Over Peanut Allergy Joke

Uber Eats finds itself entangled in controversy following the airing of its Super Bowl commercial, which included a joke about peanut allergies. The ad, which initially intended to inject humor into the event, has elicited strong pushback and criticism from viewers, particularly those affected by food allergies.

The commercial features stars like Usher, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, David and Victoria Beckham, and Jelly Roll being forgetful as a way to showcase the convenience of the Uber Eats delivery services. For instance, Aniston doesn’t recognize her “Friends” co-star of over 10 years, Schwimmer. However, the ad’s attempt at humor backfired when it featured a scene in which a character jokingly questions the severity of a peanut allergy.

“There’s peanuts in peanut butter?” the man asked while looking at the jar he was eating out of. “Oh, it’s the primary ingredient.”

In response, advocacy groups and individuals with peanut allergies swiftly voiced their concerns, highlighting the insensitivity of the ad and its potential to trivialize a serious health issue. Many expressed disappointment at the lack of consideration for individuals who live with food allergies and the potential harm such messaging could perpetuate.

One group, Food Allergy Canada, sent a letter to Uber Eats requesting the company to “edit the commercial to remove the segment of concern” before it airs on Sunday during the game “as it adds no value and only does potential harm.” The letter also stated, “The fact that this is a Super Bowl commercial with exponential reach makes this even more harmful, as research shows that depicting medical conditions in a comical way reduces its perceived seriousness.”

Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE), a nonprofit group, also released a statement about the commercial, noting that “the suffering of over 33 million Americans who live with life-threatening food allergy is no joke.”

In light of the controversy, Uber Eats announced that it will “edit out the depiction of peanut allergies in the final version of the ad,” according to Today.

This news comes after Uber responded to FARE regarding the commercial. FARE’s CEO Sung Poblete shared a follow-up statement on Feb. 9, which says, “I have spoken with Uber, they are very appreciative of FARE’s valuable perspective and feedback and have made a change to the ad that will air to the Super Bowl’s wide audience, they are editing out the reference to the peanut allergy.”

Poblete also added, “FARE would like to thank Uber for listening to our community and making the changes to their Super Bowl ad. After talking with them today, I believe we have a new ally in helping us navigate our journey with our disease.”

The backlash against Uber Eats’ Super Bowl commercial has reverberated across social media platforms and news outlets, prompting a broader conversation about the responsibility of advertisers to consider the impact of their messaging. Critics argue that the ad’s attempt at humor crossed a line, emphasizing the need for greater sensitivity and awareness when crafting advertising content, especially on such a large stage.