I’ve seen a commercial several times about which I have decided I am justified in complaining.

I won’t advance the product by saying its name.  But you’ve seen it.  “Hi, I’m Rob Lowe.”  and “I’m painfully shy Rob Lowe,” says a clone in what apparently we are meant to conclude is an unattractive outfit.  And:  With a stutter.  The rest of the commercial attempts to convince us that “painfully shy Rob Lowe” with his stutter and attire is a loser and will be a loser because he doesn’t have the product advanced by Rob Lowe.  The cool one.  Rob Lowe cautions us, “Don’t be like this guy.”

Oh puh-lease!  I don’t use the product/service touted by “cool Rob Lowe”, but if I did, I would immediately switch to another product/service.  I’ve had family members who stuttered; I’m what we called in my childhood “crippled”; and I know many people who daily wear the type of clothing worn by “shy Rob Lowe”, the person whom we are encouraged not to resemble.  I have to say it chafes my chaps to see a company and an actor trade on what I consider bullying.  What kind of example does this set for children watching television?  How do children who more closely fit the mold of “shy Rob Lowe” feel about a handsome actor ridiculing them?

Shame on him.  Shame on the company that hired him for such nonsense, to which I will not give publicity by calling their name.  But they know who they are.  Oh, and by the way:  a link to this blog entry will go to Twitter and will include “@RobLowe” in the link.  Take that, “cool” Rob Lowe.  And send “shy Rob Lowe” over for dinner, you stuffed shirt.