Don’t Have a Cow, Man: Aubrey Plaza’s Milk Ad Sparks Backlash

In a Nutshell:

• Actress Aubrey Plaza is facing backlash over a milk ad she recently appeared in.
• The ad, which promotes cow’s milk as a healthy drink, has sparked criticism from vegans and animal rights activists.
• Plaza has yet to comment on the controversy, but the ad has reignited debate over the ethics of the dairy industry and the health benefits of cow’s milk.

Actress Aubrey Plaza has landed in hot water over an advertisement for milk.

Plaza, known for her roles in “White Lotus” and “Parks and Recreation,” recently starred in an ad the by Milk Processor Education Program (MilkPEP).

The seemingly innocuous ad features the popular actress promoting a fictitious product called “Wood Milk,” which is supposedly made from wood.

Plaza starts the ad by standing in an orchard, looking contemplatively at a tree, and saying, “Have you ever looked at a tree and thought, ‘Can I drink this?’ I did.”

She then introduces herself as the co-founder of Wood Milk and proceeds to describe the product’s supposed virtues, claiming that it is “the world’s first and only milk made from wood.”

She is then shown posing with logs and wood shavings, and photographing trees up close.

As the ad continues, it becomes increasingly clear that it is all just a parody. Plaza takes a swig of Wood Milk, which leaves behind a chunky, wood pulp-filled milk mustache.

She then states, “Is wood milk real? Absolutely not. Only real milk is real. Then what did I invest in?!”

The ad has not been well-received by everyone, however.

Many people have criticized Plaza for appearing in an advertisement that promotes the dairy industry, and for making fun of plant-based milk alternatives.

One twitter user called Plaza a “dairy propagandist.”

Another person tweeted, “I’m so heartbroken y’all. Aubrey Plaza out here doing ads for the dairy industry trying to make fun of plant milks by shilling ‘wood milk.’ The desperation.”

Another person wrote, “This Aubrey Plaza wood milk thing has made me so mad. It’s a marketing campaign for dairy milk paid for by ‘Got Milk?’ who are a dairy industry marketing lobby.”

Plaza has not yet responded to the backlash, but MilkPEP’s CEO, Yin Woon Rani, defended the ad in a statement to TODAY.com.

“In a world where dairy milk is one of many choices, our fictitious Wood Milk brand is designed to encourage consumers to educate themselves on their beverage options and the differences in the nutritional profiles within,” the statement said.

“While you may be able to make milk out of anything these days, not everything is created equal. We welcome the conversation and response.”

Despite the criticism, there are some people who have enjoyed the ad and defended Plaza.

One commenter on the TikTok version of the ad wrote, “I will drink any milk you tell me to, Aubrey Plaza.”

Others have praised the ad’s humor and creativity, and even created a social media hashtag, #woodmilknation, in response.

It’s clear that the Wood Milk ad has caused a stir, but whether it will have any lasting impact on Plaza’s career or reputation remains to be seen.

Regardless, it’s certainly a unique addition to her resume.

Source: TODAY.com