M&S fans 'boycott' store after controversial Christmas ad with Dawn French

Shoppers of M&S have been outraged with the retailer and even threatened to "boycott" the store after making a very controversial decision for their Christmas advert this year. Marks and Spencer chose to welcome back comedian Dawn French to their festive season, as she has been involved with their Xmas ads since 2021.

This year, she returned once more as her fairy alter ego. In the advert, Dawn is stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic as she begins singing along to the Chris Rea Christmas classic Driving Home For Christmas. Her fairy character then suddenly bursts into life as frustrations begin to gorw and saves the day, opening up the doors to an M&S truck filled with food. She says: "Nothing kicks off the festive season more than the drive home for Christmas. This year, my chum Fairy is waving her wand to deliver a truck-load of festive joy to the usual grid-locked Christmas traffic jam, as we feast on the must-have party food of the season, from Tom Kerridge's Pork & Mushroom Pâté to Fish, Chip & Pea Bites... with chips IN the salt and vinegar batter. I know! Yum yum, in my sizeable tum."

However, TV fans who spotted the ad have issued complaints about her involvement after she sparked backlash earlier this year for posting about Gaza.

Critics accused the 68-year-old actress and comedian of appearing to "mock" the 7 October 2023 attack that triggered the war as she shared a video to her Instagram account.

In the 40-second video, the Vicar of Dibley star shared her views on the ongoing war, saying: "Complicated, no, but nuanced. But [the] bottom line is no."

Switching into a high-pitched voice, she went on to say: "Yeah, but you know they did a bad thing to us, yeah but no. But we want that land... and we have history... No. Those people aren't really even people, are they really? No."

She later apologised "unreservedly" for it, acknowledging that the video "appeared one-sided", and said she never meant to "mock, or dismiss, or diminish the horror" of that day.

But M&S shoppers have not forgiven her for posting the video. Taking to X/Twitter, one person wrote: "Sorry if this sounds horrible. I was about to go to M&S and then caught sight of their Christmas ad featuring Dawn French. I just couldn't bear to go there right now."

Another echoed: "Safe to say @marksandspencer won't be receiving any custom from me this Christmas season. Having an antisemite fronting their ad campaign is a bit of a festive downer tbh. Shame as I've bought my turkey from them the last two years."

While one more said: "Another added to the boycott list, it appears John Lewis got the message this year so I suggest everyone take their business from M&S to them."