'I'm ugly crying': The powerful Christmas ad leaving people in tears

A viral Christmas advertisement is bringing audiences to tears around the world and has been hailed the best festive commercial of the year.

The ad, which has racked up millions of views on social media as well as more than 7 million on Youtube, is from Dutch pharmaceutical company DocMorris and features a determined grandfather desperate to improve his upper body strength.

The German advertisement follows the elderly man’s journey from struggling to lift a heavy kettlebell to competently lifting it above his head after months of training from autumn through to the cold winter period.

Puzzled relatives and neighbours feature throughout appearing baffled by his dedication to lift the apparatus.

His motivation for his training regime is only revealed at the end of the ad when he gifts his granddaughter a star before lifting her up so she can place it on the top of her Christmas tree in front of her emotional mother.

The ad then ends on a picture of the little girl sitting proudly on his desk at home. He’d been using the picture as motivation throughout his fitness campaign.

Ad prompts outpouring of reaction on social media

The ad has prompted an outpouring of comments on social media praising its creators while many admitted they were brought to tears over the video after a draining 2020.

“I can't stop watching it, it is so emotional. Most beautiful ad I have ever seen,” one person wrote.

“Watched twice and cried twice,” another admitted.

“Best Christmas advertisement this year,” one person claimed.

“I’m ugly crying,” one viral tweet of the video read.

Company explains ad is about importance of family

DocMorris explained the advert was all about being able to spend time with your family and loved ones at Christmas.

“This year is the best gift of all that we are fine and healthy,” it explained when uploading the ad to YouTube.

“That is why your health is also a matter close to our heart so that, especially at Christmas, you can take care of what really matters in life: to spend a carefree time with your family and loved ones.”

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In 2016, another tear-jerking Christmas ad featuring a grandfather and granddaughter went viral.

It was from online auction site Allegro and some went as far to claim it was the best Christmas advert they’d ever seen.

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