Why Does Everybody Hate the New Gerber Baby?
The Rise and Fall of a Beloved Icon Is a Chilling Reminder of the Costs of Fame
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Every now and then, a story emerges that perfectly captures the moment. For me, that story right now is the Strange, Sad Tale of the Gerber Baby.
In 1928, the little-known Freemont Canning Company of Michigan introduced a line of baby foods named after its owner, Dan Gerber, and put out a call for a portrait of a baby to use in its advertising. Leslie Turner, a popular comic book illustrator, and his wife, Bethel, who lived in Southern Connecticut, submitted a sketch of their daughter, Ann Leslie. The sketch was made by the family’s neighbor, Dorothy Hope Smith, a commercial illustrator.
As a grown-up, Ann Turner Cook (she later took her married name) described what happened next to the St. Petersburg Times, “I have to credit Dorothy with everything. I was really no cuter than any other baby, but she had wonderful artistic talent and was able to draw a very appealing likeness.”
But as Ms. Cook, who died this month at age 95, kept quiet for decades, having her portrait become one of the most recognized corporate logos in the world had its challenges.
Ann Turner Cook, the original Gerber baby. (Source: NBC News)
First, she was paid nothing. Ms. Cook earned undergraduate and master’s degrees in English and went on to become chairwoman of the Hillsborough High School English department in Tampa. But it was only through a settlement with the company in 1951 that they reluctantly paid her $5,000. By that time, she feared that revealing her identity would produce scorn among her students because of what the New York Times described as “the exquisite brand of disdain at which adolescents excel.”
Also, her own children didn’t particularly like Gerber baby food, she told The Globe and Mail.
In her later years, Ms. Cook finally reconciled with her fame and used it to promote the mystery novels she wrote on the side.
Her death this month corresponded somewhat unfortunately with the release of the latest winner of what is now an annual social media publicity campaign to pick the “new Gerber baby.” This year’s winner, Isa Slish, an eight-month-old from Oklahoma, was announced last month. Chosen from 225,000 entries, she, at least, received $25,000.
Because she’s also received an enormous backlash filled with hate, trolling, and insults.
Isa is limb different; she was born without a right femur or fibula. In the lead photo that Gerber released, she’s on her belly, as Ms. Cook was, beaming into the camera with enormous eyes and an open mouth.
Isla Slish, the newest Gerber baby. (Source: New York Times)
One huge topic of criticism on social media: she’s not smiling.
As one commenter wrote: I thought the Gerber baby had to be smiling???
Others complained: she was chosen too quickly.
Wow. They honestly went through EVERY ENTRY in that short amount of time? 🤔
Or: She’s not attractive.
Ugly child
This child is not cute at all
Also: she’s too woke.
This is why I didn’t even enter this year and never will again. My children are white children with no problems and healthy. They won’t Pick them because they are just that and afraid of the back lash they will get if they did. They always pick minorities or people with a sad back story. I had no chance. Happy for the winner. Just became a waste of time.
Just cause the baby has a disability doesn’t mean anything. Then should of said looking for gerber baby who has a disability make life easier for the rest of the people entering there baby cause sad story always gets the judges feeling bad for the person.
Others insisted: she's not woke enough.
Color babies matter too!! All I’m saying, would’ve been nice to see a brown baby win it’s 2022! @gerber
Wow SMH I'm so done with @gerber they just refuse to give a black baby a chance!! 😩😔😢
And: she caused the baby formula shortage!
What are you doing to get formula back on the shelves??? So many stores are nearly empty of every brand and type 💔
These comments, all of which I drew from Gerber’s own feed, are actually the sanitized ones, as the company was forced to delete the meanest ones. Fortunately, some commenters started pushing back on all the hate:
No, these comments are absolutely sick. Imagine if somebody spoke on your child this way. Isa is beautiful, congratulations to her. I’m sure there were thousands of beautiful babies submitted, but Gerber saw something special in Isa. There is nothing wrong with that and it makes none of our children with special. I feel @gerber should turn off commenting.
@gerber you guys should keep a list of all the names that left a RUDE and nasty comment and put them on a “banned to enter” list. 💡 lmk if you need me. I’ll help! Lol 💅🏼
Seriously how disgusting & I am sorry you guys have to read all these comments from these bitter parents!!!!
Damn these comments from parents are just pathetic. Jealousy is an ugly thing.
Isla and her parents on the Today Show (Source: Today Show)
What explains this outpouring? The New York Times suggested it might be the stress of being a parent during COVID. Other obvious culprits include political division or the “exquisite brand of disdain” that the internet encourages.
But maybe, instead of seeing this embarrassing display as a sign of cultural descent, we should see it as a sign of progress. Twelve hundred years ago, the Greek philosopher Plutarch described how the ancient Spartans used to submit newborns to town elders for inspection. “Fit and strong” babies survived; “lowborn or deformed” babies were left outside to die. While some scholars have disputed this account, the fact remains: Isa is far luckier to be facing a digital mob of cowardly jerks than an actual mob of powerful jerks.
Why do we hate the Gerber baby?
Because we’ve forgotten how far we’ve come.
☀
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Don’t Be Happy: Why a Meaningful Life Is More Important Than a Happy One
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