A new viral political video supporting Kamala Harris’s presidential campaign has sparked widespread criticism, particularly among conservatives, for its portrayal of “manly men” declaring their support for Harris.
The video, produced by a grassroots group called Creatives for Harris and directed by former Jimmy Kimmel Live! producer Jacob Reed, has racked up millions of views on social media. The ad, however, has been met with backlash, with some calling it “the cringiest political ad ever created.”
The 90-second video, which was not officially authorized by any candidate or committee, features six men making exaggerated claims about their masculinity, including eating “carburetors for breakfast” and not being “afraid of bears.”
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The men also state that they support Harris for president, declaring they are “man enough” to do so.
Kamala is losing men by an historic margin. So she made this ad of men saying they are man enough to vote Kamala. It actually made me cringe multiple times. This should fix her man problem. Enjoy: pic.twitter.com/DkkWPNbaFG
— Clay Travis (@ClayTravis) October 11, 2024
Conservatives and other critics took to social media to question the authenticity of the ad and its portrayal of men.
Some even suggested the video seemed more like a parody.
Fox Business senior correspondent Charles Gasparino criticized the message, saying, “It’s so bizarre that those on the political left, who for years proselytized that men can be women and women can be men, now think they have credibility to say what a real man is all about. Sorry, you blew it years ago.”
David Reaboi, a fellow at the Claremont Institute, also ridiculed the video, commenting, “Not only do they have no idea how actual men speak, they couldn’t find any convincing male actors.”
The video’s cast includes actors Winston Carter, Chris Gibson, Lanre Idewu, Tony Ketcham, Mike Leffingwell, and Wayland McQueen, many of whom have backgrounds in Hollywood or improv comedy.
According to IMDB profiles, these actors have appeared in bit roles in films, TV shows, and short videos. Carter, for instance, has been involved in several low-budget films, while Ketcham is known for his roles in Ghost World and The X-Files.
Lanre Idewu, who plays a gym-goer in the ad, has a more extensive acting and producing resume, with credits on shows like Arrested Development and Hallmark movies.
He has also shared photos on social media with Democratic figures, including Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden.
McQueen and Leffingwell, both members of the Upright Citizens Brigade comedy group, also feature prominently in the video.
Leffingwell, who boasts credits on The Goldbergs and Conan, is seen standing next to a horse, declaring he’s “sure as s— not afraid” of women.
Social media users quickly pointed out that the men in the ad are actors, prompting further criticism about the authenticity of the campaign. “The campaign is so fake, they even have to fake the fake enthusiasm. They’re so bad at this,” one user commented on X (formerly Twitter).
As many of you know, Jimmy Kimmel's writer, Jacob Reed, directed an ad for the Kamala Harris campaign titled 'Men for Kamala.' The ad features what are presented as everyday male voters explaining why supporting Kamala Harris is the masculine thing to do. However, none of the men… pic.twitter.com/UKsD7o3l15
— Bad Hombre (@joma_gc) October 11, 2024
Another user posted, “This explains why Progressives don’t know what a real male is,” referencing the video’s awkward portrayal of masculinity.
This explains why Progressives don’t know what a real male is: https://t.co/3mWF8VZ7Bt
— AmySpreeman (@Aspree_Berean) October 12, 2024
Jacob Reed, the director behind the ad, responded to the attention by stating that the video is “more sketch comedy than political ad.”
Writing on Substack, Reed said, “What these men are saying is true,” despite the comedic tone. He added that he hopes the video sparks a conversation about redefining masculinity in America, saying, “With the rise of role models like Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff on the national stage, I think the left is finally finding its footing on how to talk about masculinity.”
Reed, who has also worked on projects for Funny or Die, said the video was produced by volunteers who support Harris, and while some elements are meant to be tongue-in-cheek, the core message of the video remains sincere.
Original article:
A 90-second video featuring men voicing their support for Kamala Harris was met with widespread criticism online, with many mocking it as one of the “cringiest political ads ever.”
The video, which surfaced on social media on Friday, features men — portrayed as farmers, car enthusiasts, and gym-goers — repeatedly asserting their masculinity while expressing their support for women and, ultimately, Harris.
Throughout the ad, the men emphasize statements like “I’m a man” and “I’m man enough,” while performing various outdoor activities, including working on cars and standing by trucks.
As the script progresses, the message takes a sharp turn toward feminist themes, with the men claiming they are unafraid to support women in their choices.
One man in the ad states, “You think I’m afraid to rebuild a carburetor? I eat carburetors for breakfast,” before another adds, “I’ll tell you another thing I’m sure as s—t not afraid of … women.” The men then go on to declare their support for women’s autonomy and family choices, saying, “If they wanna control their bodies, I say go for it,” and, “If a woman wants to be president … I hope she has the guts to look me right in the eye and accept my full-throated endorsement.”
I present to you the cringiest political ad ever created. pic.twitter.com/P0JMI1caNS
— Champagne Joshi (@JoshWalkos) October 11, 2024
The video quickly became the target of ridicule across social media platforms, with many questioning whether it was intended as satire.
Some speculated that it could have been a prank orchestrated by supporters of former President Donald Trump, given how awkwardly it portrayed the men’s supposed support for Harris.
One user on X (formerly Twitter) posted, “I present to you the cringiest political ad ever created.” Another commented, “It’s so bad, it is more believable as parody than reality.”
Political commentator David Reaboi of the Claremont Institute weighed in on the ad, stating, “Not only do they have no idea how actual men speak, they couldn’t find any convincing male actors.” Writer Emily Zanotti echoed this sentiment, asking, “Who wrote this script? Have they met literally a single male human?”
The ad also drew criticism from Margot Cleveland, a legal correspondent for The Federalist, who jokingly remarked that the only men the Harris campaign seemed familiar with were Doug Emhoff, Harris’ husband, and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.
The origin of the ad remains unclear, though a small disclaimer at the end of the video noted that it was “not authorized by candidate or candidate committee.”
Despite the mystery surrounding its creators, the ad has certainly generated significant attention online — though likely not the kind of attention Harris supporters were hoping for.
As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the ad serves as a reminder of how political messaging, particularly on social media, can backfire.
The Harris campaign has not commented on the ad or its content, leaving many to speculate about its intent and the reaction it has garnered.
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This is a joke… right?
I hope trump will be man enough to stop crying when he loses!
She is dumb as a rock!
As to the guy who “eats carburetors for breakfast”, I suspect he didn’t get that body by doing so.