Update: Actor in Multiracial Cheerios Commercial Responds To Backlash Against Ad

Golden Valley-based General Mills’ news Cheerios ad is cute and sweet to a point verging on the saccharine, but a vocal group of racists have seized on another part of the commercial for criticism—the multiracial family in the commercial.

On Reddit, one poster complained that the company was “Shoving multi-culturism down our throats when we know it fails.” Comments beneath the YouTube video of the commercial got so bad that General Mills eventually shut it down.

Cheerios, told Gawker’s Cord Jefferson that, “Consumers have responded positively to our new Cheerios ad.  At Cheerios, we know there are many kinds of families and we celebrate them all.”

A press release with a quote from Charles Malik Whitfield, the actor who plays the father in the commercial, stated:

"As an actor who happens to be African-American, I am very proud to be part of the forward-thinking Cheerios commercial produced by General Mills. I believe it represents what America stands for – regardless of race, creed or sexual preference. To all of the wonderful people who have supported this heart-warming and very adorable commercial, I applaud you all."

Patch wants to know how you feel about the controversy. Are you surprised there was so much talk about the commercial?