Just when you think you have seen it all, Eli Lilly and Company, a pharmaceutical company, launches an ad campaign titled “Lilly – A Medicine Company.” The theme of the campaign is to promote equality – across all races, genders, socioeconomic backgrounds, etc. – when it comes to accessing and utilizing medicine and health care. It’s tagline: “We make medicine, not just for some, but for everyone.”

While there are a number of concerning elements in the commercial, including a transgender man wearing flashy makeup, one of the most heartbreaking and confusing parts of the ad is this statement: “Because the body you are randomly assigned at birth shouldn’t determine how well you are cared for.” This voice-over is heard while showing a woman with double mastectomy scars wearing an open robe and identifying as a man.

Can you imagine what goes through the mind of a child when he or she sees this ad?

Lilly chose to air this commercial knowing it would be controversial. We all know children imitate what they see and repeat what they hear. Lilly should be ashamed!

Lilly is going to push away customers if it continues advertising in a repulsive manner that offends parents. Lilly needs to know that parents do not approve of this advertising tactic.