Here’s The “Graphic” Commercial You Didn’t See During The Oscars

A postpartum ad that was supposed to air during the Oscars is gaining attention online after ABC rejected it for being too “graphic.”

The 60-second commercial made by Frida Mom shows a new mom waking up in the middle of the night and struggling to use the bathroom, while using different products to help her, including mesh underwear. The ad ends, saying “Postpartum recovery doesn’t have to be this hard,” followed by products the company sells. 

Frida Mom posted their ad on YouTube and introduced it by saying, “The ad you’re about to watch was rejected by ABC & the Oscars from airing during this year’s award show. It's not ‘violent, political’ or sexual in nature. Our ad is not ‘religious or lewd’ and does not portray ‘guns or ammunition.’ ‘Feminine hygiene & hemorrhoid relief’ are also banned subjects.”

The company submitted the commercial to air during the 2020 Oscars, but according to Health.com, it was rejected for being “too graphic with partial nudity and product demonstration.” 

On their YouTube, Frida Mom went on to say “It's just a new mom, home with her baby and her new body for the first time. Yet it was rejected. And we wonder why new moms feel unprepared.”

The ad caught the attention of Busy Phillips, who reposted it on her Instagram saying in the caption, “I legit teared up when I just watched it. Partially because this is clearly an ad made by women who have been there and get it and partially because I DO believe so strongly that the more we can NORMALIZE A WOMAN'S BODILY EXPERIENCE IN MEDIA.” 
 

As of February 11, the video had more than 1.5 million views on YouTube.