Bill Maher wasn’t all that impressed with Nike’s recent Super Bowl commercial, which featured big names like Caitlin Clark and A’ja Wilson, and he’s made that clear for all to know.
The commercial aired during the Super Bowl as the Philadelphia Eagles cruised to victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Joining Clark in the “So win” commercial were other big names like Sabrina Ionescu and A’ja Wilson, Olympic sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson, and Team USA gymnast Jordan Chiles, while Doechii served as the narrator.
Doechii lists doubts the various female athletes had to face during their journey to greatness, and how they’ve had to defy critics.
“You can’t take credit, you can’t speak up, you can’t be so ambitious, you can’t break records, you can’t have any fun, you can’t make demands, you can’t be proud, you can’t keep score, you can’t stand out out,” she says.
“Whatever you do, you can’t win… so win.”
The athletes are shown in action on the court or on the field or on the track, marking Nike’s first Super Bowl ad in decades. It’s reportedly become the brand’s most-watched video in record time.
Why Maher slammed the commercial
Despite the record-breaking commercial seemingly proving to be a hit, Maher and his panel slammed it during Friday night’s ‘Real Time with Bill Maher’.
“There’s this phrase I use a lot here: zombie lie,” Maher said. “It means something that used to be true and it stopped being true, and then people kept saying it. I feel like this is a giant zombie lie.
“When was the last time a woman was told: ‘You can’t do this, you can’t be confident?” Who are these imaginary mean old men of the patriarchy?’
“If the Democrats are ever gonna win again, they have to realize something about the American people. They’re not that savvy about politics, but they know when you’re lying,’ he continued.
“So who on the left says to the people at Nike, whoever is applauding this: “You’re not helping.” People aren’t buying this. You’re going to lose elections in the future. You just keep doubling down on this stupid idea of always going to the oppressed and the oppressors.
“It’s almost like you hate progress because it threatens your role as a social justice warrior. So women have to keep being the victim… who does that?”
Former Democratic Representative Tim Ryan added to Maher’s sentiments, stating that “the world has moved beyond a lot of this stuff.”
Columnist Pamela Paul stated: ‘Most of the messages you hear are “Girl power, you go girl, girl’s code. The messages encouraging young women are so ubiquitous, it begins to sound not only dishonest, but just weird and defensive.
“Who is saying this to them? Who are they fighting against? And why does it help girls and women to think of themselves as uniquely embattled and vulnerable?”
Read the full article here
