Peloton Holiday ad sparks criticism

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw it and thought to myself "what just happened? she looks the same - started out as thin and fit, and is still thin and fit..."

because it's not about looks! Sigh. Exercise is much more than that.

Obviously, sigh, from the reactions - the ad did a bad job at explaining what "more" there is than that. The ad didn't communicate its message very well, clearly.

Though it did get people talking, so good on them if that was the goal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Fat acceptance needs to be eliminated

I think stupidity (such as yours) should be eliminated first.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It's a luxury fitnesss brand...did they think it was going to be a bunch of chubby people touting Jenny Craig microwavable meals? Like wtf. It's a dumb commercial but I don't get why people think a brand that's aspiration based - people buying a Peloton aspire to be thin - should use overweight people.

Bc she was already very thin. Her aspiration to be even thinner is what has people bashing the ad.

The ad didn't say one word about being thin. Not one. It didn't mention weight once. Everyone complaining about "aspiration to be thinner" is projecting their own feelings onto that fictional woman.

Ok well this was an explanation based on comments from people viewing the ad. You saw what you wanted and so did others.

Not really, no. I viewed the ad, and reported what was actually in it - the actual words used. As I said, no mention of weight or size. That's not seeing what I want, it's a factual description of what was in the ad.

The people who think this is about her wanting to be thinner, on the other hand, did see what they want - or what they fear, I guess.

Well then please go share your thoughts with the many people on Twitter who explain what they dislike about the ad. I’m sure your thoughts will be well received.

No thanks. I have a hard enough time explaining things to the dimwitted on DCUM - I know better than to try that on Twitter.

And in case you were wondering, yes, I am referring to you.

Well now you've convinced me that Peloton made a totally normal ad for their exercise bike

Yep. At this point, the only criticism I'm really reading is "why did she videotape herself? why did she put her bike there? why was she nervous getting on it?"

All of that is pointless criticism that has nothing to do with the bike itself.

The ad is clearly supposed to make us feel like we are going along with this woman on her journey from weirdly anxious (about an exercise bike?) to determined Peloton cyclist, to newly confident with her year of achievement. We are supposed to see ourselves in her - and that means that we're supposed to see the bike in our house. It makes sense that since this is the journey the Peloton people are trying to take us on, that we'd notice where they get details wrong or where the ad seems to fail in its intention. It's just a weird ad, in some ways that are easy to describe - WHY IS SHE SO NERVOUS - and in others that are more inchoate but are obviously three since so many people are noticing the ad's strangeness.

It's cool you don't see it and are so valiant in your defense of the ad. I'm sure a year from now you'll be confident too! Just be sure to put the Peloton by the front door so if you decide you don't want to do it anymore you can run out into the snow.

Why are you so judgmental about someone being nervous to begin an exercise program? I suppose you've never been nervous for something?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'd be curious as to whether people who own Pelotons thought the ad was SO FREAKING TRIGGERING.

I'm guessing not.

I'm a Peloton owner. I posted above, saying I thought the ad was weird. No, it was not triggering. I don't care that she was thin and stayed thin. It's weird because she seemed too anxious, and because she made a film of herself riding, and then showed the film to her husband a year later. I also (to answer another PP, or maybe you are the same PP) don't care a lot about this ad, and wouldn't have given it much thought but I read the article posted by the OP and saw that it has generated a lot of criticism, so I commented here.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:It's a luxury fitnesss brand...did they think it was going to be a bunch of chubby people touting Jenny Craig microwavable meals? Like wtf. It's a dumb commercial but I don't get why people think a brand that's aspiration based - people buying a Peloton aspire to be thin - should use overweight people.

Bc she was already very thin. Her aspiration to be even thinner is what has people bashing the ad.

The ad didn't say one word about being thin. Not one. It didn't mention weight once. Everyone complaining about "aspiration to be thinner" is projecting their own feelings onto that fictional woman.

Ok well this was an explanation based on comments from people viewing the ad. You saw what you wanted and so did others.

Not really, no. I viewed the ad, and reported what was actually in it - the actual words used. As I said, no mention of weight or size. That's not seeing what I want, it's a factual description of what was in the ad.

The people who think this is about her wanting to be thinner, on the other hand, did see what they want - or what they fear, I guess.

Well then please go share your thoughts with the many people on Twitter who explain what they dislike about the ad. I’m sure your thoughts will be well received.

No thanks. I have a hard enough time explaining things to the dimwitted on DCUM - I know better than to try that on Twitter.

And in case you were wondering, yes, I am referring to you.

Well now you've convinced me that Peloton made a totally normal ad for their exercise bike

Yep. At this point, the only criticism I'm really reading is "why did she videotape herself? why did she put her bike there? why was she nervous getting on it?"

All of that is pointless criticism that has nothing to do with the bike itself.

The ad is clearly supposed to make us feel like we are going along with this woman on her journey from weirdly anxious (about an exercise bike?) to determined Peloton cyclist, to newly confident with her year of achievement. We are supposed to see ourselves in her - and that means that we're supposed to see the bike in our house. It makes sense that since this is the journey the Peloton people are trying to take us on, that we'd notice where they get details wrong or where the ad seems to fail in its intention. It's just a weird ad, in some ways that are easy to describe - WHY IS SHE SO NERVOUS - and in others that are more inchoate but are obviously three since so many people are noticing the ad's strangeness.

It's cool you don't see it and are so valiant in your defense of the ad. I'm sure a year from now you'll be confident too! Just be sure to put the Peloton by the front door so if you decide you don't want to do it anymore you can run out into the snow.

Why are you so judgmental about someone being nervous to begin an exercise program? I suppose you've never been nervous for something?

If the ad is just targeting rich people who can relate to being super duper stressed out about getting on an exercise bike, then it's a great ad apparently.

[Anonymous]

Much ado about nothing. I saw the "outrage" on the Today Show today. I'm overweight, but I take no offense at this commercial. They're just selling something.Thin people exercise and fat people don't as much. Peloton knows its audience. Who cares? Move on to something more outrageous ... like Trump.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw it and thought to myself "what just happened? she looks the same - started out as thin and fit, and is still thin and fit..."

As it turns out, exercising can be about much more than losing weight.

Then they should have made it clearer as to what she's actually achieved. It's not - not at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I saw it and thought to myself "what just happened? she looks the same - started out as thin and fit, and is still thin and fit..."

As it turns out, exercising can be about much more than losing weight.

Then they should have made it clearer as to what she's actually achieved. It's not - not at all.

What's "not?"

[Anonymous]

Honestly, it's possible that they made it ambiguous so that people could imagine what Peloton could do for them.

[Anonymous]

She looked really sad and stressed out. She was rushing in from work to use the peloton, letting it get her up at 6AM, felt compelled to take pictures of herself using the peloton--it just sucked the life out of her. She needs to exercise outside.

[Anonymous]

Her strange forced smile was the issue. Felt like an ad for a cult with unwilling members.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She looked really sad and stressed out. She was rushing in from work to use the peloton, letting it get her up at 6AM, felt compelled to take pictures of herself using the peloton--it just sucked the life out of her. She needs to exercise outside.

Huh? You are reading so much into this. Maybe she enjoyed taking pictures of herself using it.

Some people can't exercise outside. We have a Peloton bike and tread for a couple of reasons:

- We have a preschooler, so we can't always just take a run or bike ride outside. The Peloton gives us flexibility to work out whenever we have the chance.

- DH has a medical condition that makes it very easy for him to sprain his ankle on any uneven surface if he runs outside. Without a treadmill, he wouldn't be able to run.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her strange forced smile was the issue. Felt like an ad for a cult with unwilling members.

Oh yes. That's the secret. We are part of a cult. We have all been forced into it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a luxury fitnesss brand...did they think it was going to be a bunch of chubby people touting Jenny Craig microwavable meals? Like wtf. It's a dumb commercial but I don't get why people think a brand that's aspiration based - people buying a Peloton aspire to be thin - should use overweight people.

Bc she was already very thin. Her aspiration to be even thinner is what has people bashing the ad.

The ad didn't say one word about being thin. Not one. It didn't mention weight once. Everyone complaining about "aspiration to be thinner" is projecting their own feelings onto that fictional woman.

Ok well this was an explanation based on comments from people viewing the ad. You saw what you wanted and so did others.

Not really, no. I viewed the ad, and reported what was actually in it - the actual words used. As I said, no mention of weight or size. That's not seeing what I want, it's a factual description of what was in the ad.

The people who think this is about her wanting to be thinner, on the other hand, did see what they want - or what they fear, I guess.

Well then please go share your thoughts with the many people on Twitter who explain what they dislike about the ad. I’m sure your thoughts will be well received.

No thanks. I have a hard enough time explaining things to the dimwitted on DCUM - I know better than to try that on Twitter.

And in case you were wondering, yes, I am referring to you.

You didn’t explain anything to me but did show how you aren’t ready to step outside your comfort zone. I’m not vicious and have no desire to drag you the way Twitter would. So you are smart to stay in your safe space. You are amongst your bubble here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Her strange forced smile was the issue. Felt like an ad for a cult with unwilling members.

Exactly. She didn't look like she was excited to receive a Peloton as a gift. She looked like she was scared, and surely that's not the reaction most gift givers are looking for when they decide to buy an expensive present for someone! Based on that advert, if I were thinking of surprising someone with a Peloton it would make me think again about whether the recipient really wants it! Which probably is important to think about anyway, but a good ad shouldn't make you more worried about buying it.