This is the story behind that weird gay Robert Dyas Christmas ad

This weird ad from hardware store Robert Dyas has got people scratching their heads… but there might finally be an answer.

The UK retail store released a Christmas ad via its Facebook page earlier this week – and it left people unsure unsure if it’s a parody, or the most earnest advert ever.

The ad, which features staff and customers at the store discussing their sexuality, has blown up online through utter confusion.

Though the chain is yet to return our request for comment (perhaps an all-weekend Christmas party?) – we have a theory about what’s going on.

The ad appears to be a re-interpretation of an obscure viral hit from 2009 – Rhett and Link’s Red House commercial.

The original spoof YouTube ad features people discussing their race at the Red House Furniture store in High Point, North Carolina.

In the Red House ad, an employee explains: “I’m Richard, I work at the Red House and I’m black. I like pumping iron, and pumping furniture into people’s homes.”

Robert Dyas appears to have updated the ad for 2015 – with an employee explaining: “Hi, my name’s Marcus. I work at Robert Dyas and I’m gay. I like going out with my friends and playing volleyball. I also like showing our gay and straight customers a funky range of our Christmas gifts.”

“I’m a black woman, and I love the Red House”, volunteers a Red House customer – while over in Robert Dyas, a woman clutching a German-language spiralizer declares: “I’m bisexual…and I always find something I love at Robert Dyas”.

Red House employee: “Look at this sofa: it’s perfect for a black person… or a white person!”

Robert Dyas employee: “Look at this Christmas tree: it’s perfect for a gay person or a straight person!”

I think that’s pretty much all the proof we need.

Quite why Robert Dyas released a parody of a six-year-old viral video we’ll never know… but our hats go off to whomever dreamed up this devious plan to troll the internet.