A highly anticipated pro-life advert has been aired on US television to an audience of 100 million viewers during the Super Bowl.
Watch the advert
The 30-second ad was produced by Christian family-help charity Focus on the Family.
The advert features Tim Tebow, a prominent figure in US college football, and his mother Pam, who tells the story of the birth of her son.
Mrs Tebow was advised to have an abortion while she was living as a missionary in the Philippines, but she rejected the doctors’ advice.
The subtle advert begins with Pam Tebow holding a baby photo of her son.
Speaking about the pregnancy Mrs Tebow says: “He almost didn’t make it into this world”.
She adds: “I can remember so many times when I almost lost him.”
The advert then takes a more lighthearted turn as Pam Tebow is tackled by her 22-year-old quarterback son.
Jehmu Greene, President of the New York based Women’s Media Center, failed to see the humorous side and claimed the tackle represented an undercurrent of violence towards women.
However, Tim Calkins, a marketing professor at Kellogg School of Management, described the ad as “very gentle”.
And Sarah Cashin, a business manager who saw the ad, said: “I didn’t find it offensive. I don’t quite understand why everyone was so up in arms about it”.
The advert was screened during the first quarter of the game, and a different version of the advert was aired during the pre-game show.
The Super Bowl is seen as the ultimate prize in American advertising, and slots are highly sought after.
Mr Tebow is an outspoken Christian who is well known for displaying Bible references on his face during games.
The Super Bowl was won by the New Orleans Saints who beat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17.