Two Ads Have Been Pulled In The Past Week For Failing Spectacularly
Over the last few days, two ad campaigns have been pulled and apologies have been issued by global companies; Pepsi and Nivea. It’s unlikely either of the brands set out to offend however, it’s a wonder that at no point did someone (… anyone?) in their marketing teams say “erm, hey guys, maybe this isn’t such a stellar idea…”
Last week, both brands, and Kendall Jenner who starred in the Pepsi campaign, faced derision from all corners of the internet. Memes have been churned out unforgivingly fast and tweets have been non-stop.
When our kids and kids’ kids look back at our time, they may judge us for many things, but never will they be able to say this generation ain’t creative.
PEPSI
If you haven’t seen it, the Pepsi ad shows Kendall Jenner during a modelling shoot. A group of (good-looking) young people form a multi-cultural march and she is drawn to join them. She rips off her blonde wig (you have to keep an eye on the assistant who catches it, her face is pure comedy gold) and smears the lipstick from her face. Our heroine somehow ends up right at the front of the crowd as they approach armed police officers. She steps forward and hands one a can of Pepsi. He smiles and the protest crowd goes wild in smiley celebration.
It’s been dragged for making light of protests in the US, where last year saw the growth of the #BlackLiveMatter movement, born in response to numerous cases where unarmed young black men and women were killed by a disproportionate use of force by police.
But it’s cool tho. Kendall saved the day. Here are some of the wittiest reactions.
NIVEA
It’s alarming that not one person questioned the copy in this advert, targeted at Nivea’s Middle Eastern audience. The company issued a statement explaining that “White is Purity” while black symbolises power, the colours of the deodorant can.
The controversial ad follows another ad which received a massive backlash six years ago.
Six years in between these two ads and it seems #Nivea still hasn’t hired a black person to join their PR team pic.twitter.com/MH0xlnMqa7
— Saharcasm (@saharmali) April 5, 2017
Someone is legitimately employed & paid to come up with “White is purity” as Nivea’s new ad slogan and here I am struggling to get hired??
— Kyle Elizabeth (@kylekerch) April 6, 2017
The ad exec at Pepsi got fired & Nivea snatched him up real quick. pic.twitter.com/vQZFT9gGbT
— David Hughes (@david8hughes) April 6, 2017
Pepsi: We’ve done it. We’ve created the most tone-deaf ad of the week. Maybe the year!
Nivea: Hold my beer. pic.twitter.com/jdNfdvqjOg— Madison Malone Kircher (@4evrmalone) April 5, 2017
Well, that’s enough internet for one day.
