Google has sparked controversy as its new Christmas advertisement features genderfluid beauty influencer Cyrus Veyssi.
The advertisement, which is part of Google’s Shopping campaign, shows 30-year-old Veyssi searching for skincare products.
Veyssi – who uses they/he pronouns – appears wearing women’s clothing while discussing solutions for winter dry skin.
The content focuses on using Google’s shopping service to find face creams, with Veyssi saying: “Hydrated skin is a gift to everyone, no wrapping needed. Happy Holidays to me.”
The advertisement, which is part of Google’s Shopping campaign, shows 30-year-old Cyrus Veyssi searching for skincare products
The social media personality, who has amassed over 580,000 Instagram followers and 600,000 TikTok followers, shared the advertisement with their online audience.
In a post accompanying the advertisement, Veyssi wrote: “The winter uglies are officially cancelled. Thanks to Google’s Nearby filter, I’m ready to pull off all my holiday looks.”
Veyssi has emerged as a rising social media star, currently co-hosting the Amazon Prime talk show “Influenced”.
Forbes featured Veyssi in August, highlighting his growing popularity which began while living with his Iranian father during the pandemic.
In the Google Shopping advertisement, Veyssi addresses winter skincare concerns: “This winter dryness is not it, especially when I have so many holiday looks to pull off, thankfully I know just the thing.”
The advertisement quickly drew criticism on social media, with conservative commentator Oli London sharing the video on X, stating: “Google launches WOKE Christmas campaign featuring man wearing women’s clothing complaining about his skin.”
Multiple users expressed outrage, with one commenting: “I’m so sick and tired of woke groups and companies pushing this disgusting degeneracy and mental illness.”
Another user drew comparisons to a recent corporate controversy, writing: “Ridiculous Google – not only is this offensive, but it also causes me to not support anything associated with Google. Why would you purposely Bud Light yourself?”
Critics called for consumer action, with one saying: “Stop supporting companies that push degeneracy and perversion on the public. We, as the consumer, have the ultimate power.”
Others accused Google of being “out of touch” and failing to “read the room.”
In response to the backlash, a Google spokesperson defended the advertisement, emphasising its place within a broader marketing strategy.
Veyssi – who uses they/he pronouns – appears wearing women’s clothing while discussing solutions for winter dry skin
“Everyone likes to find a good deal and save money. That’s why we’re promoting Google Shopping as the best way to do that,” the spokesperson said.
The company clarified the scale of the campaign, stating: “To put it in perspective, this was a single sponsored Instagram post, representing a fraction of a percent of a much wider Google Shopping campaign.”
The controversy follows similar recent advertising debates, including Coca-Cola’s Christmas advertisement which faced criticism for replacing human actors with AI.
The Coca-Cola advertisement, running 16 seconds, was developed entirely using artificial intelligence, prompting viewers to label it “garbage” and “ugly” on social media.
