Tag Archives: advertisements

Actually, You Can Be Too Thin, Pretzel Crisps

Amelia McDonell-ParryAugust 4, 2010 //

God, I love me some pretzel crisps — dipped in hummus and with slices of cheese, they are delish. But I am mad at them. Their new ad campaign is straight-up wrong. Look, I get it, the appeal of pretzel crisps is that they are thin like crackers and, in theory, better for you than big ol’ bready regular pretzels. But they knew they were being shady with their “You Can Never Be Too Thin” campaign because people will automatically — and rightly so — associate “thin” with weight and “too thin” with anorexia and other eating disorders. Edgy! Also lame. Don’t make me go back to pita crisps or carrot sticks — I’m warning you. [via Young Manhattanite and NYC The Blog] Keep reading »

Diesel’s “Be Stupid” Ads Banned In Britain

Lily QJuly 2, 2010 //

Some of Diesel‘s ever-annoying “Be Stupid” campaign posters have been banned in Britain for fear that they’ll inspire bad behavior in local kiddies. Frankly, we’re spitefully pleased to see the campaign — which reminds us that “stupid is the best idea smart ever had” (whaa?) — cut down a bit. The entire campaign wasn’t removed, but a take-down notice has been mandated for some of the racier, dumber images, like a girl flashing a security camera and displaying side boob. Also under fire is an ad featuring a woman photographing her private parts while walking through tall grass in her underwear as a hungry-looking lion lurks. Sorry Diesel, but this is what you get for being morons. [Huffington Post] Keep reading »

Condoms Are For Ugly Folks!

Amelia McDonell-ParryApril 26, 2010 //

The problem with this ad campaign for OLLA condoms is obvious. In addition to being totally insulting, promoting that condoms are for ugly people doesn’t really do much to stop the spread of STDs. After all, perfectly good-looking people get herpes (Paris Hilton) and I really hope she wraps it up. Check out a few others ads from the campaign, after the jump… [Copyranter] Keep reading »

Dentyne Says Practice Safe Breath, Not Safe Sex

Annika HarrisMarch 16, 2010 //

So last night as I was wasting my time watching “The Price of Beauty,” I was beaten over the head with this new Dentyne Ice commercial during every single break. According to this advertisement, it’s the guy’s responsibility to provide protection against bad breath when the loving heats up. The concept might seem clever at first, but couldn’t the dude in the pharmacy have bought some condoms along with his gum? That way, there’d be some reference to the fact that gum doesn’t protect against STDs or unwanted pregnancy. What was even more arresting to me was that VH1 chose to run a commercial for Seasonique birth control pills directly after this Dentyne one, reminding women that the responsibility to prevent a pregnancy is all in their hands. Keep reading »

T.I.’s Akoo Jeans Ad Has Done Its Job, Now It Can Be Taken Down

Annika HarrisMarch 3, 2010 //

Two things remain true when it comes to marketing: 1) sex will always sell and 2) even negative publicity is good publicity. The recent controversy surrounding a sexually suggestive ad for T.I.‘s Akoo Jeans proves both. The billboard incited complaints from Newark’s Mayor Cory Booker and residents because it features a woman with her head pressed against a man’s crotch, her tongue wagging through her lips, one hand pulling on his pocket, and the other hand reaching between his legs to tug on the back of his jeans. He has his hand grabbing the back of her head. So it wasn’t a huge stretch to assume she was about to give him a beej. Some say the ad sexualized black women, but I think a black woman was used because Akoo is an urban clothing company. Plus, the ad isn’t any more sexual than the photos on American Apparel featuring women of all races. The Akoo ad is not racist, and I’m not even sure it’s sexist, but it is definitely in poor taste. No one wants to be met with soft-core porn as they drop the kiddies to school. And now, they won’t be because CBS Outdoor, which owns the billboard space, has decided to take the ad down. But did anyone even know T.I. had a clothing line before this controversy began? No? Well, then, the ad did its job. [Essence.com, The Associated Press] Keep reading »

More Satisfying Than Your Average Iced Tea

Catherine StrawnFebruary 11, 2010 //

Lipton asked six artists to design labels for its new flavors of Brisk Iced Tea, and our jaw dropped when we noticed Tristan Eaton’s, which illustrates the sweet tea experience. “The inspiration for my design was capturing a moment of absolute happiness and satisfaction,” he said. “Hopefully my Sweet Tea flavor can give us all that taste of absolute satisfaction!” We can only hope sipping a bottle of the stuff will give us as much pleasure as the woman on the bottle clearly feels. [Lipton Brisk via NOTCOT] Keep reading »

Alexa Chung Spoofs Eating Disorder Rumors For Bing.com

Amelia McDonell-ParryJanuary 14, 2010 //


Ever since she arrived on American shores to host the now-defunct “It’s On With Alexa” on MTV, peeps have been speculating that model/TV presenter Alexa Chung has got some sort of eating disorder. The stylish Brit is mighty slender, but that could certainly be genetics not anorexia. Chung seemingly decided to poke a little fun at the rumors in this Bing.com ad, in which she seems utterly clueless about eating. Funny, offensive, or neither? [ONTD] Keep reading »

Michael Bay Gives Victoria’s Secret The Action Movie Treatment

Amelia McDonell-ParryDecember 8, 2009 //


Michael Bay, the director behind SUPER EXPLOSIVE action films “Transformers,” “Pearl Harbor,” and “Armageddon,” directed this brand-new Victoria’s Secret commercial. There’s lots of wind and rolling around and gap-mouthed-ness and then, of course, a fiery blast. One question — where’s Ben Affleck? [via ONTD] Keep reading »

Vintage Christmas Commericals: Lucky Strike

Wendy AtterberryDecember 8, 2009 //


Nothing says “Happy Holidays” like a carton of smokes, especially when it’s designed with Christmas greens and pine combs. So seasonal! As you can see in this black-and-white commercial, a carton of Lucky Strikes looks “bright!” and “colorful!” under the tree and is sure to please any smoker with good taste. After all, it does say “Merry Christmas and Happy Smoking” two-hundred times.
Keep reading »

Last Licks: Grandmas Goin’ At It

SimchaDecember 8, 2009 //


In this video, some silver foxes show that with age comes experience. These ballsy broads have their dirty way with ice cream cones all for Science World. Basically, this ad sums up the reason Viagra was invented, folks. And I thought my grandma was willing to put it all out there … [Trend Hunter] Keep reading »

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