The Golden Gaytime skips Indonesia market

Under social-media fire in Indonesia over its Golden Gaytime ice-cream brand, Unilever has issued a statement to say the brand is not even sold in the country.

Protesters say the name and design promote LGBT rights, a big issue in Indonesia. The outrage follows social-media posts featuring a Rainbow Gaytime ice-cream bar that is not an official product but a tribute concept created by an Australian fan for Sydney’s Mardi Gras festival. The posts went viral, followed by ugly comments and calls to boycott Unilever subsidiary Wall’s.

Unilever Indonesia clarified that the ice cream was not a product of Wall’s Indonesia. It said it has been in Indonesia for 84 years and respected and upheld the cultural and religious values and norms of the country. It also said Wall’s brand was halal certified in Indonesia, and had won an award for its efforts in this area.

Golden Gaytime first released in Australia in 1959, keeping its name despite the change in connotation of the word “gay”. In recent years, as with the rainbow edition, it has embraced the modern use of the word.