Frank Thomas can swing a mean pillow

Posted on Wed Apr 04, 2007 at 11:04:12 AM EST in MLB
More on: Frank Thomas, commercial, Blue Jays, video (all tags)

Frank Thomas can do some serious damage with a bat in his hands, but what about a pillow? Well, according to the Television Bureau of Canada, the Big Hurt is too aggressive during a commercial in which he has a pillow fight with a small boy. In the ad, two boys are having a pillow fight when Thomas enters the room and tells the kids to go to bed. One boy hits him with a pillow and then Thomas takes a swing of his own, knocking the kid off the bed.

The TBC has yanked the ad but refused to comment on why. However, their website has this guideline posted, which could be the reason behind pulling the spot off the air.

Advertisers are cautioned that "it is imperative to keep the best interests of young children and youth in mind when producing commercials. Because children and youth are very impressionable, commercials should not contain any visual or audio portrayals which are detrimental to their well-being."

The TBC's website goes on to state that acts of violence, "even comedic violence," can be found to be excessive when included in commercials.

C'mon, does anyone honestly think that a pillow fight promotes violence? Are they terrified that the country's kids are so impressionable that they are going start ripping pillows off their parent's beds and attack bums on the streets?

Hello, it's a commercial! Nobody thinks the kid actually got walloped by Thomas. Of course, this is the same company that refused to air a commercial with AJ Burnett tossing a small bundle of trash off the head of a garbage man until the words "dramatization" was added.

Links:
[GlobeSports.com]: Swing and a miss for Blue Jays' commercial

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