In his controversial interview on an Italian radio program earlier this week, president of pasta company Barilla said that the company would never use the image of a family headed by gay or lesbian parents in one of its ads. Why? “[W]e like the traditional family,” Barilla said. He invited customers to buy a different pasta brand if they disagree. “Challenge accepted,” said Bertolli, a worldwide brand owned by Unilever. Except in Italian. [More]
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Bertolli Takes Advantage Of Barilla’s PR Problems, Says Their Pasta Is For Everyone
By Laura Northrup 9.27.13
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Barilla President Says Ads Will Never Feature Gay Families, Gay People Switch Pasta Brands
By Laura Northrup 9.26.13 — Updated: 9.27.13
Barilla is the world’s largest manufacturer of delicious boxed pasta. Their marketing features a cuddly family eating delicious pasta, associating pasta with “home.” Not all homes, though. In a radio interview, company president Guido Barilla said that the brand would never put out an ad featuring a family headed by a homosexual couple. Gay rights supporters have concluded that Barilla doesn’t want their business, and called for a boycott. [More]