Maybelline has recently been on the receiving end of a major internet backlash after it faced an unprecedented amount of opposition from conservative citizens for its portrayal of an LGBTQ+ influencer in a makeup ad. This is not the first time that the brand has shown a male LGBTQ+ member in the forefront. In 2017, Manny Gutierrez was revealed as the brand’s first-ever male ambassador. Manny Gutierrez, popularly known as Manny MUA, is a gay online influencer and viral Youtuber who is famous for his makeup tip videos. He is a former pre-med student who left medical school to pursue his passion for makeup and beauty. In the recent ad, Ryan Vita promotes Maybelline New York’s Superstay Vinyl Ink lip gloss. The influencer applies the product on his lips while praising its shine and comfort, further stating that it does not “budge or smudge” for up to 16 hours. He ends the video by blowing a flying kiss to the audience. The ad, which was posted on Maybelline New York’s official Instagram handle, has amassed over 1.8 million views at the time of writing. The Maybelline backlash followed a similar pattern to that of the recent uprising against Bud Light and Dylan Mulvaney earlier this year.
