Mysterious French-language commercial has the internet baffled — here's what it really says
During the Grammy Awards on Sunday night, there was one commercial that left viewers guessing. Freaking out, even.
Am I stroking out? What is happening in this Old Spice commercial?
— Surly Rae Jepsen (@Mykayak) January 29, 2018
Old Spice aired a mysterious ad featuring a glamorous French woman in a sparkling Mediterranean village, who is very upset over “Old Spice.” The catch? The 60-second spot was entirely in French, sans subtitles.
The commercial begins with a woman clutching a red sweater in her cozy home. As she snuggles the sweater, she envisions herself with a handsome captain wearing said sweater. But then the chaos begins.
The woman looks puzzled, as if she’s lost something important, and is soon seen running through the narrow brick streets of her town, telling her glamorous neighbors something deeply upsetting — and it all boils down to “Old Spice,” which is the only word English speakers can decipher, a phrase that’s repeated with escalating urgency.
Why? That’s exactly what Twitter was wondering.
Why are these French ladies yelling about old spice
— jenna ?? (@highbrowjenna) January 29, 2018
This Old Spice commercial is that deal! lol it's so dramatic!!!!!
— Holliwood (@DrCMH) January 29, 2018
LMAO @ this Old Spice Commercial pic.twitter.com/iBRuiHOXYm
— #Jay444President 🇹🇹 (@The_Hip_NoTiCe) January 29, 2018
We don’t know what’s being said — unless, of course, we’re fluent in French. Luckily, those who are swooped in to tease the answer.
Okay, the Old Spice commercial en fran?ais is HILARIOUS.
— Lexie Little (@lexielittle2015) January 29, 2018
I missed the beginning but why did this lady name her dog Old Spice? (For the first time in my life I’m sad I’m fluent in French because I had to understand this ad)
— Nic (@CloneNic) January 29, 2018
Well, mystery solved. Old Spice released the captioned commercial on Youtube and Twitter:
Oh wait, it’s about a lost dog??? Never mind.
Old Spice Captain includes a line of deodorants, a body wash, and a shampoo and conditioner with a distinctly manly scent. According to the brand’s website, the Captain fragrance “smells like the bold determination it takes to stare down the open ocean and laugh, with an invigorating splash of fresh sandalwood” — which may help to explain the irreverence of this commercial.