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Ill thought Adverts

Advents of mis-guided adverts (May 2017)

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:-(
A former member
It seem McDonalds will now pull the most recent advert: I've only seen it once and I was pretty shock on how that even manged to get to air.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39941536
Quote:

McDonald's has decided to withdraw its latest TV advert, which was criticised for exploiting childhood bereavement.
The fast food giant had already apologised for "upset" caused by the advert, first aired on 12 May.
It features a boy who struggles to find something in common with his dead father until he goes to McDonald's.
A spokeswoman for McDonald's said the British advert will be removed from all media this week and it will review its creative process to avoid a repeat.
"It was never our intention to cause any upset," read the statement.
"We are particularly sorry that the advert may have disappointed those people who are most important to us - our customers.
"Due to the lead-times required by some broadcasters, the last advert will air on Wednesday 17 May.
"We will also review our creative process to ensure this situation never occurs again."
'Countless' complaints
The campaign, from London-based advertising agency Leo Burnett, had been scheduled to run for seven weeks.
In the advert, the boy asks his mum about his absent dad, sparking some reminiscence.
The boy is left to wonder whether he and his father had anything in common, until he arrives at a McDonald's restaurant and orders a Filet-O-Fish and the mother says: "That was your dad's favourite too."
Bereavement charity, Grief Encounter, had "countless calls" from parents saying their bereaved children had been upset by the advert.
The Advertising Standards Authority also said it had received complaints and would "carefully assess them to see whether there are grounds to investigate".


I cant remember the last advert which truly was in bad taste.
Last edited by A former member on 18 May 2017 9:22am
DV
DVB Cornwall
I can see what the furore is about, however I though initially what on earth, having seen it three times now I found it moving and on point with its message. The script was good, and effectively summed up what a distressed parent with a child having lost her husband and the child's father would think in the circumstances.

Brave effort, maybe too brave, to the non-critically minded viewer.
:-(
A former member
Here is the full verison
paul_hadley and cyberdude gave kudos
JO
Jon
Some silly comments on social media about this "are they comparing the loss of father to eating a Big Mac" no it's about the son taking after the father and sharing a trait allowing the mother to be reminded of her late partner. It's not like the son was distressed or still mourning just curious and reflective. Whether it's a bit OTT for McDonalds probably but so is the outcry.

When I first saw the ad I assumed it was going to be for a bank or life insurance though. I'm kinda fed up with these kind of faux sincere family story adverts for such things.
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
If I'm honest, its not the most controversial advert I've seen but I wouldn't have deduced it was a McDonalds advert.

Anyway the landscape of advert history is littered with controversial adverts, a few of which are documented here up until 2011:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13344575

Then there are other examples, like the XBox advert (where the guy crashes into the grave) and the Tango slapping adverts to name but two. The McDonalds advert doesn't reach these levels IMO.
JO
Jon
I think most scripted telly will offend someone all of the time. Food can can create a sentimental link to someone and this is what the story is trying to tell. People just don't like it because it's a multi-billion dollar international heart attack giving corporation. But I'm sure anyone who's ever tasted a Chicken McNugget can forgive them that.
Last edited by Jon on 16 May 2017 7:32pm
LL
Larry the Loafer
Then there are other examples, like the XBox advert (where the guy crashes into the grave) and the Tango slapping adverts to name but two. The McDonalds advert doesn't reach these levels IMO.


There have been a surge in snowflakes over the last decade or so. I'm surprised Joe Pasquale's dog from the National Accident Helpline adverts wasn't pulled for trivialising animal cruelty.
RE
Rex
I saw it once (whilst watching Dave), and I can understand where McDonalds was coming from - a boy and his mother reflecting upon the death of his father. I do think they've taken a risk - but some people clearly are easily offended.

As for the most ill-thought out adverts - this clearly sticks out in my mind (someone's already brought it up) - the banned advert for the launch of the original Xbox in 2002:
NJ
Neil Jones Founding member
Although of course the ironic thing is by banning the XBox advert above, it sort of goes full circle in the end as it usually ends up in a compilation show somewhere all about things that were banned/controversial so it only ever gets "banned" for advertising purposes, but is allowed to appear outside of an advertising context.

Admittedly the McDonalds hasn't been "banned" as such (yet, that's a matter for the ASA), it will probably appear on Channel 5 in a few years in a "when advertising goes wrong" sort of show that fills three hours on a Sunday night somewhere.
JA
JAS84
Ill thought advents? Somebody regretting eating too many calendar chocs? Wink

Typo in thread title needs fixing.
Markymark and Mike W gave kudos
WH
Whataday Founding member
As a four year old I famously ate the entire contents of a Shoe People advent calendar then hid the evidence under my bed. I say famously - in my family anyway.
IS
Inspector Sands
It's a bit smaltzy and sick making but thought it was quite sweet really, though a bit OTT to sell a low quality burger.

Don't really see what the fuss was about

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