Hollywood A-lister Ryan Reynolds finds himself at the centre of a social media storm after his latest marketing move for Aviation Gin has divided fans and critics alike.
The Controversial Commercial
The Deadpool star has released a new advertisement for his gin brand featuring actress Monica Ruiz, who recently gained viral notoriety as the "Peloton wife" in a controversial Christmas commercial for the exercise bike company. In the original ad, Ruiz played a woman who appeared visibly thinner and somewhat traumatised after receiving a Peloton bike from her husband, sparking widespread criticism about body image issues.
Reynolds' Aviation Gin spot shows the same actress sitting at a bar looking emotionally drained while two friends comfort her. "To new beginnings," they toast, in what appears to be a direct parody of the controversial fitness advertisement.
Mixed Reactions from Fans
The marketing stunt has generated strong reactions across social media platforms, with many followers expressing their disappointment in the actor's decision to capitalise on the situation.
One Twitter user commented: "This is just mean-spirited and not in the fun way we usually expect from Ryan. Using someone else's misery for marketing feels icky."
Another added: "Normally love Ryan's humour but this misses the mark completely. It's punching down rather than being clever."
Supporters Defend the Move
However, not all responses have been negative. Some fans have praised the commercial as typical Reynolds-style humour and smart marketing.
"This is exactly why we love Ryan - he's always quick to jump on trending topics with his unique brand of comedy," one supporter wrote.
Another noted: "Actually think this is quite brilliant. He's giving the actress a chance to reclaim the narrative and have some fun with the situation."
Marketing Genius or Step Too Far?
The debate continues to rage online about whether Reynolds' latest campaign represents marketing genius or whether the beloved actor has finally crossed a line with his trademark edgy humour.
What remains clear is that the conversation surrounding both the original Peloton ad and Reynolds' response shows no signs of slowing down, keeping both brands firmly in the public eye during the crucial holiday marketing period.
