DailyDirt: Epic Fail In Advertising
from the urls-we-dig-up dept
There are numerous ways to piss off customers. Most companies make mistakes from time to time in advertising, but every so often, there are mistakes so egregious that people just can’t look away. Sometimes bad publicity is still publicity, but here are some train-wreck examples.
- Some advertisers are rushing to Rush Limbaugh, against the tide of sponsors running away from him. After Limbaugh called Sandra Fluke a slut, it seems that a couple escort services would like to advertise their services on Limbaugh’s show (and apparently these companies are just fine with Rush’s use of the word slut). [url]
- Mommy bloggers are not a group you want to offend, and it might seem cute to try to have a little fun with some motherhood observations… However, the makers of Motrin found out the hard way that it needs to choose its words more carefully. [url]
- Woody Harrelson doesn’t actually mean “ask me anything” when he talks to people online. Harrelson just wanted to promote his new movie, but instead enraged would-be fans in a discussion that went downhill pretty quickly. [url]
- To discover more interesting advertising-related content, check out what’s floating around on StumbleUpon. [url]
By the way, StumbleUpon can recommend some good Techdirt articles, too.
Filed Under: advertising, failures, motrin, publicity, rush limbaugh, woody harrelson
Comments on “DailyDirt: Epic Fail In Advertising”
Do not mess with the mom-borg-collective.
“a couple escort services would like to advertise their services on Limbaugh’s show “
I wonder if he will personally endorse the product.
Obama is the greatest threat to freedom of speech.
Rush Limbaugh said on the air that he would not accept advertisers by escort services etc and would ask any affiliate stations to not run such ads during his show. The entire story is nothing but a smear on Rush Limbaugh.
This entire thing is nothing more than Obama’s attempt to silence anyone he considers his enemy. Obama is an enemy of freedom of speech. He is trying to silence the Internet because it is free and is using this incident to try and further erode our freedom of speech.
Obama is the greatest threat to freedom of speech.
What are you smoking?
Obama is the greatest threat to freedom of speech.
Obama had nothing to do with Sandra Fluke being a target of Rush’s three day attack on her for doing nothing more than testifying to Congress about healthcare issues in America.
Obama is the greatest threat to freedom of speech.
Obama had nothing to do with Sandra Fluke being a target of Rush’s three day attack on her for doing nothing more than testifying to Congress about healthcare issues in America.
I used to listen to Rush Limbaugh. His biggest complaint was that the other side (the left) wasn’t listening. He made a few good points. He did refuse to listen to any opposing point of view on his show. He proceeded to become a huge hypocrite. He’s a drug addict who rationalizes it by saying it was prescription and somehow that makes it okay.
Rush, you are a drug addict. You are the lowlife you despise. Go ahead and attack a young woman and try to feel superior.
We see the man behind the curtain.
A very good recovery by Motrin
I have to say that Motrin’s response was very well handled. Their letter suggests both personal interest and professional ethics with the appearance of honest humility thrown in for good measure, and their prompt action will look very good in the reviews. I would say this an excellent example of exactly how a company SHOULD respond to public mistakes.
If only other corporations would realize just how bad their arrogance makes them look, and would try showing some sympathy and humility instead we could all be looking at a much more pleasant society. And I won’t even mention politicians… 😉
At least Rush is revealing the true ugliness of it all
Bahahah, I’m a new fan of dating ads! Lame? No. Marvelous? Yes!
This whole advertiser rebellion has been so refreshing to me. As an American and as a woman, I cannot express enough how deeply disturbed I am at the contraception and abortion debate…if you can call it that. I absolutely cannot believe I live in a world in which my state could mandate governmental rape, which is exactly what the transvaginal ultrasounds are. And that’s just one of the ridiculous issues plaguing discussion of women’s health.
I’m actually kind of glad Rush decided to be an idiot because he revealed the true ugliness bubbling just under the surface.
Rush was right
Melissa,
There is no “transvaginal`ultrasound in the new law. The procedure is nothing more than what planned parenthood already requires before an abortion (which is hardly a non-invasive procedure).
Sandra Fluke was an activist who went to a Catholic college to get the government to force them to go against their beliefs. This is not about contraception, it`s about government coercion. Obama and his media stooges has reframed this a “war on women”.
Sandra Fluke represents a generation of entitled morons who want the state to solve all their problems. It’s funny none of the liberal types who are bashing Rush seemed to mind all the mysoginistic remarks towards Sarah Palin (or any conservative woman for that matter).
Rush was right
Belloc – criticizing the political views of a politician who happens to be female isn’t misogynistic. Calling a woman a slut and suggesting that she and others be required to perform public sex acts in order to earn access to contraception is about as misogynistic as it gets.
You can attempt to reframe and reframe and reframe these debates based on whatever spin you want, but Rush is not right from any perspective.
Obama is the greatest threat to freedom of speech.
The entire story is nothing but a smear on Rush Limbaugh.
If accurate reporting is a smear then perhaps Mr. Limbaugh should not act in such a manner.
This entire thing is nothing more than Obama’s attempt to silence anyone he considers his enemy.
Do you actually have proof to back up this claim?
Why not blame the Clintons?
Obama is the greatest threat to freedom of speech.
This entire thing is nothing more than Obama’s attempt to silence anyone he considers his enemy.
Are you implying that the government has finally perfected that thought control mind ray device and put words into Rush’s mouth?
Hmmm. Might be time to re-line my wizard hat with some new tin foil.
Re:
Only if they’re based out of the Dominican Republic.
I went to college and there were times I didn’t have health insurance at all so for Sandra Fluke to complain she didn’t get contraception but had insurance is infuriating.
Rush was right
The personal attacks on Palin went beyond policy criticism.
Sandra Fluke is a public activist, not the innocent student the media is trying to portray her as.
Rush was right
Oh, I see – being active in the pursuit of a (legal) cause one believes in is now grounds for infantile public attacks.
Thank you for pointing out such an obvious oversight.
btw, how much dead airtime will be tolerated before the show is pulled?
Obama is the greatest threat to freedom of speech.
LOL nice troll.
Rush was right
Sandra Fluke was an activist who went to a Catholic college to get the government to force them to go against their beliefs. This is not about contraception, it`s about government coercion. Obama and his media stooges has reframed this a “war on women”.
I keep hearing this… No, it’s been about women’s health concerns and the Republicans have been on the wrong side of this issue. It should be about a woman having a conversation with their doctor. It’s about a woman being able to testify to Congress about what contraceptives help her do (education, working, etc) without having religious nuts come in with a morality plea that somehow she’s a shameful human being for taking contraceptives.
First, I doubt you’ve read anything in regards to this issue. A friend had to have an ovary removed because she couldn’t take contraceptives on the Jesuit Georgetown campus. Her friend was gay so pregnancy was not an issue in this regard. She also discusses other issues where women have to take contraception irregularly simply because it’s not enough.
What the Georgetown campus does not cover, it makes very good economic sense for the insurance companies to cover. In fact, that is a VERY good policy in allowing women to get out of the home and pursue their own economic pursuits. So much so, that the Catholic Health Association endorsed the individual mandate that the Heritage Foundation made so long ago.
In short, this “controversy” has been about access. Nothing more. There’s no sense of entitlement but trying to find a way to better the women on the Georgetown campus that don’t have much in the way of healthcare needs.