‘Woke’ Christmas ad? Google responds to criticism over nonbinary influencer
Google is responding to criticism over a new holiday shopping advertisement. The ad features Cyrus Veyssi, a nonbinary beauty influencer, promoting Google Shopping ahead of the holidays.
While Google describes this ad as part of a broader advertising campaign, it is the choice of Veyssi as the featured influencer that sparked pushback from some conservatives and garnered significant media attention.
News outlets rated as having a right-leaning political bias have been primarily covering the story. Left-leaning news outlets have largely omitted the story from their coverage.
Fox News: “Google accused of ‘woke’ new Christmas ad with ‘nonbinary’ beauty influencer.”
Washington Examiner: “Google criticized for ‘woke’ Christmas ad with ‘nonbinary’ influencer.”
Daily Wire: “Google Trashed For Holiday Shopping Ad Featuring Man Dressed Like A Woman.”
When a news story is reported predominantly by one side of the media spectrum, it may be seen as a form of bias, either through story omission or oversaturation.
Straight Arrow News often refers to this type of coverage as a Media Miss, which indicates this story is underreported or ignored by one side of the political divide.
As the story gained traction among right-leaning outlets, Google issued a response to the controversy.
In a statement to Fox News, the company said, “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. 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.”
Right-leaning outlets have included Google’s response in their coverage, such as the Washington Examiner. The publication also noted some users on X have called for boycotting Google and switching to alternative search engine DuckDuckGo.
Other outlets, like Fox News, have compared the controversy to similar reactions to other recent advertisements. Fox News cited the backlash faced by luxury auto brand Jaguar last month for its rebranding campaign that featured androgynous models.
Zillow offers look inside Santa’s home at North Pole
Home for the holidays. It’s what many of us are dreaming about this time of the year, and Zillow is giving everyone the chance to visit one special home: Santa’s.
First, here are some new numbers before we get to the tour. AAA estimates a record 119.3 million people will travel 50 miles or more over the year-end holiday period from Dec. 21 to Jan. 1, according to its forecast released Wednesday, Dec. 11.
Nearly 90% of holiday travelers are hitting the road this year, representing roughly 107 million people expected to hop in their cars. Meanwhile, nearly 8 million passengers will take to the skies.
That number may or may not include travel by reindeer, the transportation of choice for one famous jolly fellow. Yes, we’re talking about Santa Claus.
Santa will leave his North Pole storybook home on Christmas Eve to fly around the world. As we prepare to embark on our trips home, Santa is letting us tour his home, courtesy of Zillow.
The real estate website is once again presents “Santa’s House,” a virtual tour of ol’ St. Nick’s 2,000-plus square foot cabin on 25 acres worth an estimated $1.2 million.
Zillow said this is its most visited off-market home listing, already viewed more than 3 million times.
Inside, you’ll find the kitchen where Santa, Mrs. Claus and the elves bake Christmas cookies. The open-concept living room includes a Christmas tree and fireplace –– with a fire, so delightful.
Moving upstairs, a guest bedroom has been transformed into a gift-wrapping room, which is a necessity for this home. And to prove this is indeed Kris Kringle’s abode, there’s Santa’s mail room where he reads every letter sent by boys and girls from all over the world.
This year, the listing includes a feature called “Let Santa Know You Moved.” Kids (and their parents) who have recently relocated can let Santa know their family’s new address. That way, Rudolph and the gang will have no trouble finding them on Christmas Eve.
Of course, if you want to track Santa’s moves once he leaves his home on his global journey, NORAD’s Santa Tracker will return on Dec. 24.
New holiday songs look to climb chart as Mariah Carey’s reign continues
Mariah Carey’s 1994 holiday song and veritable phenomenon, “All I Want for Christmas Is You,” has been at the top of Billboard’s “Holiday 100” for 62 out of the chart’s 70 total weeks since it began the tally in 2011, the company announced Monday, Dec. 9. The chart ranks holiday songs by streaming data, radio airplay, audience impressions and sales data.
The song’s staying power is so strong it’s currently No. 1 on the “Hot 100.” Billboard said Monday that the song had 38.2 million streams and 24.4 million radio airplay audience impressions in the past week. It was also No. 1 on Billboard’s “Greatest Holiday Songs of All Time” chart.
A song from 30 years ago might seem like a “classic.” That said, it’s relatively new compared to the rest of the top 10 that make up the “Holiday 100.”
Songs from the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s hold most of the top spots, according to the chart from the week of Dec. 7, including: “Last Christmas” by Wham! released in 1984 at No. 3; “A Holly Jolly Christmas” by Burl Ives featured in the 1964 “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” TV special at No. 5; and Dean Martin’s 1959 rendition of “Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!” at No. 7.
And at No. 2 is “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” by Brenda Lee, released in 1958. This one experienced a Christmas miracle of its own last year. The song overtook Carey as the No. 1 spot on the “Holiday 100” for three weeks. It also, for the first time, landed at the top of the “Hot 100” chart.
But that doesn’t mean the latest holiday jingles are completely failing to make it on Billboard’s list. Make like Santa and check the list twice because there is new music on there that’s proving quite nice.
In fact, to get to the first song released in the past decade, you only have to go to the 10 spot to find Ariana Grande’s “Santa Tell Me,” though that was released 10 years ago. Grande is one of the few artists to overtake Carey, holding No. 1 for a week during the 2014-2015 holiday season.
That song is followed by Kelly Clarkson at No. 11 with 2013’s “Underneath the Mistletoe,” released nine years ago.
No. 34 has our first taste of a song from the past five years. The Jonas Brothers’ “Like It’s Christmas” from 2019 fills that spot. The Ed Sheeran and Elton John 2021 “Merry Christmas” original is not too far behind at No. 41.
But for a song released in 2024, there is only one contender –– Laufey’s “Christmas Magic” shines at No. 50.
The Grammy-winning Icelandic-Chinese artist is celebrating this feat and the recent premiere of her concert film, “A Night at the Symphony: Hollywood Bowl,” in theaters nationwide.
Getting a newer holiday song to chart at the top of the list is challenging. Look at Taylor Swift, for instance. Her 2019 “Christmas Tree Farm” single sits at No. 79. It’s not a usual chart position for the pop superstar who just wrapped up her record-breaking Eras Tour.
In related news, there’s now a mix of classic and new to throw on your playlist. Bing Crosby’s 1947 “White Christmas,” which according to the Guinness Book of World Records is the best-selling single of all time, just got an updated version. Thanks to modern technology, Bing is paired with V of the Korean boyband BTS in a rendition released last week.
And if you’re wondering who the other artists with a “Holiday 100” No. 1 are: Justin Bieber and Pentatonix, though both for just a week or so, before they gave the spot back to who many consider its rightful owner, Mariah Carey.
Major surge in returns expected to increase during holiday season
Holiday shopping is expected to reach record highs this season, but a growing number of those purchases will be sent back, piling on to an already multibillion dollar problem for retailers. According to the National Retail Federation and return management company Happy Returns, returns in 2024 are projected to be 17% of all merchandise sales in the United States, totaling $890 billion.
The projected total is up from a return rate of about 15%, or $743 billion, in 2023.
As shopping peaks in the weeks ahead, stores expect the holiday return rate to be 17% higher than the annual rate.
Impact of online shopping
Retail experts said customers are now more comfortable with buying and returning habits due to the online shopping boom sparked by the pandemic.
Some of these habits include “bracketing,” which is buying multiple sizes or colors of the same clothing items with the intent to return some of those pieces.
In addition, 69% of shoppers admit to doing what’s known as “wardrobing.” That’s when a customer buys an item for a specific event and returns it afterward.
According to returns software company Optoro, wardrobing is up 39% from 2023.
According to data, 46% of shoppers say they return stuff multiple times a month, which is a 29% jump from last year.
Retail industry challenges
The current rate of returns creates major challenges for companies when it comes to lost revenue, environmental impact and managing all the returns.
In 2023, several retailers rolled out stricter return policies like shortening the return window and charging a return or restocking fee.
Some places, including Target, implemented a “keep it” policy in certain cases. That’s when the company offers a refund without taking the product back.
Other brands like J. Crew and Levis Strauss & Co. are trying buy back programs to keep goods in circulation.
Looking ahead
Improving the returns experience tops the list of retailers’ goals going into next year. While returns can cost the company, the vast majority of shoppers are more likely to buy from a place that offers easy returns.
Holiday-scented candles could be health risk: Study
Popular holiday-scented candles might smell great, but a new U.K. study found they’re not great for the lungs. The study researched the impact scented candles and incense can have on indoor air quality, finding they could be worse for people than just inhaling smoke.
When scented candles and incense burn, they release chemicals and particles into the air, including toxic gases like carbon monoxide.
They can also produce volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chemicals that easily evaporate into the home’s air supply. VOCs can also lead to several short-term health effects, including coughing, sneezing and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat and lungs.
Breathing in these chemicals also increases the risk of heart disease and lung cancer.
A similar study burned equal amounts of cigarettes and incense sticks, finding incense created four times as much particulate matter as cigarettes. Additional studies have found candles and incense can be major sources of particulate matter pollution in non-smoker homes.
Americans crave more alone time, especially during the holidays: Study
While the surgeon general has declared loneliness an epidemic in the U.S., a little alone time does the mind good, especially around the holidays. That’s according to more than half of Americans.
A new study out of Ohio State University shows people need their alone time to deal with holiday stress. Researchers found 56% of people say alone time is critical to their mental health, but nearly half (46%) of them don’t get it during the winter holiday season. More than a third (36%) of them admitted they get more irritable when they don’t get enough alone time.
It’s important to note alone time is very different from loneliness. Loneliness is often associated with feelings of sadness or abandonment while alone time is a contented choice to be by yourself.
The study’s authors said carving out even just small increments of alone time in your day can have a lot of benefits not just for a person’s mental health, but their physical health as well. Some small things people can can do to get in some much-needed alone time include taking a walk or stretching, giving themselves five minutes to just breathe and relax, or finding other little opportunities, like playing their favorite music while they cook.
If the holidays make a person more depressed than stressed, remember there’s help for that too. They can call the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 any day at any time for someone to talk to. It’s completely confidential and free.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal. The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season.
On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
President-elect Donald Trump said Mexico has agreed to stem the tide of migrants flowing into the United States, but Mexico’s president is now saying that’s not quite accurate. And Amazon workers are using Black Friday to make a statement about their labor situation. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Nov. 29, 2024.
Mexico’s president refutes Trump’s claim she promised to close the border
As President-elect Donald Trump gets ready to return to office, he’s already making moves to follow through on some of his biggest campaign promises. After announcing this week his plans to impose tariffs on goods from China, Canada and Mexico, he turned his attention to another hot-button issue: immigration.
It’s a bit of a case of “he said, she said” after Trump had a call with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday, Nov. 27. President-elect Trump posted on his Truth Social platform after the call saying Sheinbaum agreed to stop migration into the U.S. through Mexico, “effectively closing our southern border.”
Sheinbaum appeared to contradict Trump in a post of her own on X, saying in part, “Mexico’s position is not to close borders…”
She did, however, lay out Mexico’s “comprehensive strategy” for addressing the migration issue. In a separate post on X, Sheinbaum said during the call, she told President-elect Trump, “No caravans are arriving at the border because they are being attended to in Mexico.”
En nuestra conversación con el presidente Trump, le expuse la estrategia integral que ha seguido México para atender el fenómeno migratorio, respetando los derechos humanos. Gracias a ello se atiende a las personas migrantes y a las caravanas previo a que lleguen a la frontera.…
The two leaders also talked about how they’re addressing the U.S. fentanyl crisis.
The call was scheduled after Trump unveiled plans to slap 25% tariffs on all imports from Mexico to the U.S. as part of the effort to stem the flow of illegal drugs into the U.S. through Mexico.
Not only would that impact the prices of avocados and agave — both very popular in the U.S. — Mexico’s economy secretary said Wednesday 88% of all North American pickup trucks come from Mexico. Sheinbaum then suggested Mexico could retaliate with tariffs of its own.
“I hope he rethinks it,” Biden said. “I think it’s a counterproductive thing to do. You know, one of the things you’ve heard me say before is that we are – we have an unusual situation in America. We’re surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean, and two allies: Mexico and Canada. The last thing we need to do is begin to screw up those relationships.”
Economists forecast Trump’s planned tariffs would increase prices for American shoppers, costing the average U.S. household about $2,600 per year, according to an estimate from the Peterson Institute for International Economics.
Israel and Hezbollah both claim ceasefire violations
Barely three days into a 60-day ceasefire between Israel and the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon, both sides are claiming violations.
Yesterday, Hezbollah had a precision-guided missile manufacturing site—today, they don’t.
Hezbollah’s largest precision-guided missiles manufacturing site, 1.4km wide and 70m underground, was struck and dismantled by IAF fighter jets yesterday.
Lebanese authorities also said two people, who were trying to return to southern Lebanon, were shot and wounded by Israeli forces. Lebanon’s health ministry said they were civilians, but the IDF claimed they were suspected of violating terms of the truce.
The agreement, brokered by the United States and France, includes an initial two-month ceasefire during which Hezbollah militants will withdraw north of the Litani River and Israeli forces are to return to their side of the border.
Thousands of Amazon workers to strike from Black Friday to Cyber Monday
Amazon workers in more than 20 countries, including the U.S., are on strike on some of the busiest pre-Christmas shopping days across the world. It started on Black Friday, Nov. 29, a day for bargain hunters to score some of the biggest discounts from stores across the country as holiday shopping kicks into high gear.
Organizers told the United Nations the so-called “days of resistance” are to hold Amazon accountable for alleged labor abuses, as well as “environmental degradation and threats to democracy.” According to ABC News, the strike could delay holiday deliveries.
The organizers said this is their fifth year of labor action against Amazon during the beginning of the holiday shopping season.
In a statement, Amazon said the group that organized the strikes is being “intentionally misleading” and promoting a “false narrative.” Management said the company offers great pay and benefits.
Canada sues Google over control of online ads
Canada’s antitrust watchdog said it is suing Google over alleged anti-competitive conduct in the company’s online advertising business. They’re calling for Google to sell off two of its ad tech services and pay a penalty.
The Competition Bureau said it’s necessary because an investigation into Google found the company “unlawfully” tied together its ad tech tools to maintain its dominant market position. Google insists the online advertising market is a highly competitive sector and is fighting the allegations.
This comes just a week after the U.S. Department of Justice asked a federal judge to force Google to sell its Chrome web browser, saying it continues to crush the competition through its dominant search engine.
America facing a live Christmas tree shortage again
As millions of Americans get ready to begin their search for the perfect Christmas tree, growers are having historic challenges getting them to sale lots, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The day after Thanksgiving is usually the biggest day for live tree sales, but since Thanksgiving came so late this year, it’s a very short selling season. On top of that, a nationwide shortage is expected thanks to severe weather across the country this year, such as a northeastern drought and North Carolina floods caused by Hurricane Helene. North Carolina is the second-biggest supplier of Christmas trees in the country.
Shoppers bought roughly 21.6 million real Christmas trees in the U.S. last year, according to the National Christmas Tree Association. The Department of Agriculture said the number of trees harvested in the U.S. has declined 30% since 2002, while the American population has grown 16% over the same period.
Alaska native air drops Thanksgiving turkeys to families in remote areas
In the most remote parts of Alaska a Thanksgiving turkey is hard to come by. So, one woman made sure families in roadless parts of the state had their holiday feast.
Pilot Esther Keim calls it “Alaska Turkey Bomb.” She flies in a small plane to off-the-grid homes and air drops frozen turkeys for families to enjoy for Thanksgiving.
Keim said it’s a tribute to a family friend who did the same thing for her family when she was growing up.
She started the tradition in 2022 after somebody that she knew told her they did not have much of a holiday dinner — and no turkey at all. Since then, she has delivered 30 to 40 turkeys every year to families living in remote areas of Alaska.
Coca-Cola’s AI-generated ad draws criticism for not using human artists
Is artificial intelligence the future of marketing? Coca-Cola is the latest company to release an AI-generated ad and now the company is getting some backlash for it online.
The Christmas-themed promotion called “The Holiday Magic is Coming” was meant to pay homage to a 1995 commercial from the brand featuring similar visuals, but with human actors and real trucks.
The new video is drawing criticism from creatives who argue that it’s in bad taste for the company to use AI instead of working with real graphic artists.
“Coca-Cola using AI for an ad is genuinely so terrifying to me,” one person on X commented. “Art is dying. Actors, replaced. Camera workers, replaced. Drivers, replaced. Designers, replaced. Soulless. This is affecting everyone now. Whether you want to accept that or not. It’s going too far.”
Coca Cola using ai for an ad is genuinely so terrifying to me. Art is dying.
Actors, replaced. Camera workers, replaced. Drivers, replaced. Designers, replaced. Soulless.
This is affecting EVERYONE now. Whether you want to accept that or not. Its going too far pic.twitter.com/0ANfrSqZU6
Coca-Cola’s President and CFO John Murphy responded in a statement.
“We are always exploring new ways to connect with consumers and experiment with different approaches,” Murphy said. “This year, we crafted films through a collaboration of human storytellers and the power of generative. Coca-Cola will always remain dedicated to creating the highest level of work at the intersection of human creativity and technology.”
Last year, the company launched its new platform “Create Real Magic” that lets creatives use AI to make original artwork using assets from the coca-cola archives.
Nike is another major company attempting to capitalize on AI.
Last year, its “Never Done Evolving” campaign paid tribute to Serena Williams after her retirement by creating an AI-generated matchup between Serena in 1999 and Serena in 2017.
As for Coca-Cola, the company said it’s just starting to explore how AI can make an impact. Officials said they’re looking at ways to use it for better work flow, customer service and material creation.
The move comes as the country continues to grapple with the fallout from July’s election, in which Maduro won a third term amid global skepticism and push back from the opposition party, which maintains the vote was stolen.
Just hours before the Christmas announcement, an arrest warrant was issued for opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González.
More than 2,000 people are also expected to spend “Christmas” behind bars after they were arrested by Maduro’s regime for protesting in the wake of the election.
Maduro’s decree is not the first of its kind — but it is the earliest. In Venezuela, Christmas is a beloved holiday. Festivities often begin days or weeks before Christmas Eve with large groups of families and friends gathering.
