Months After Starring in Controversial Commercial That Sparked Outrage From Palestine Supporters, ‘Ted Lasso’ Star Hannah Waddingham Is Back on TV in a New Holiday Ad
Hannah Waddingham is the new face of Baileys in a controversy-free commercial. (Photo: Scott Garfitt/Invision/AP)
Baileys Irish Cream unveiled its ad holiday campaign Monday, starring the “Ted Lasso” star, Hannah Waddingham. In the musical commercial, Waddingham sings about Baileys while conducting a choir.
“The holidays are a special time and Baileys has always been at the center of festive celebrations amongst loved ones,” Diageo Director of Baileys and Liqueurs Milly Shome said in a news release. “We hope to spread a little holiday magic this year by making your celebrations even more delicious with Baileys Original Irish Cream, the must-have indulgence of the season.”
The campaign debuted in early November, with the Emmy-award actress “orchestrating” a U.K. musical group, The Gold Vocal Collective.
“The holidays are my favorite part of year; a time to get together with my friends and family and indulge in our own traditions,” Waddingham said. “From nights out with friends, to much-needed catch ups with family around the kitchen table, with spontaneous cocktails to cozy evenings by the fire, it’s a time to break away from routine and enjoy all the festive fun… Who better to partner with for the holidays than the most festive adult treat — Baileys!”
This is Waddingham’s second appearance in a holiday commercial this year. The actress starred in a spot for the U.K. department store, Marks & Spencer. The commercial featured celebrities destroying things about Christmas that annoyed them.
However, controversy struck when, according to Reuters, the company ended up apologizing due to the fact that one part of the segment — captured in an Instagram post — featured burning Christmas hats in traditional red, green and silver colors. This ignited outrage online, as many noticed the Christmas hats were the color of the Palestinian flag and didn’t believe the burning of those colors to be a coincidence.
M&S ended up apologizing, removing the post and taking that part out of the commercial, issuing the following statement:
“Today we shared an outtake image from our Christmas clothing and home advert, which was recorded in August, before the conflict broke out between Israel and Hamas,” the retailer posted on X, formerly known as Twitter. “It showed traditional festive colored red, green and silver Christmas paper party hats in a fire grate. While the intent was to playfully show that some people just don’t enjoy wearing paper Christmas hats over the festive season, we have removed the post following feedback and we apologize for any unintentional hurt caused.”
Israel and Hamas: An Intractable, Deadly Conflict
The Israel-Hamas war started on Oct. 7, according to ABC News, when Hamas fired 2,200 rockets towards central and southern Israel including Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. Armed Hamas soldiers reportedly abducted hundreds of Israelis, slaughtering women and children and taking some into Gaza.
Israeli jet fighters issued retaliatory strikes in Gaza, and according to Reuters, some of the strikes implemented white phosphorus in Gaza and Lebanon. Using this substance is considered a war crime by Human Rights Watch.
During the conflict, a rocket was fired at a hospital in Gaza, killing civilians. Multiple media outlets initially reported that Israel launched the rocket, while video analysis from outlets like Al Jazeera and the Associated Press argued that it was likely a rocket from “Palestinian militants” that went astray.
On Thursday, Israel and Hamas have agreed to begin a four-day ceasefire to allow for the release of 50 hostages taken by Hamas, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. In exchange, Hamas has asked Israel to release 150 Palestinian prisoners. The released on both sides will be women and minors.
Back in the U.S., individuals report increasing incidents of Islamophobia, such as an Ex-Obama adviser claiming “Palestinian children should die,” according to Reuters.
These coincide with more incidents of Anti-Semitism, such as multiple Jewish students at Cornell University being threatened online.
USA Today reported that an anonymous student “called for the deaths of Jewish people and warned that the school’s Kosher dining hall would be shot up and a ‘Jewish house’ bombed.” The incident is under federal investigation.
“We understand that people are scared,” White House domestic policy advisor Neera Tanden stated in an address to the Jewish community. “I do believe that we are doing everything and anything we can to protect people against the threats that they are experiencing.”
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