Lost amid the big Snickers ad controversy was the fact that Americans complained about an ad being aired in Britain.
Here’s a perspective from Britain, written by Paul Shearer, a founding partner of Arnold London:
What’s so amazing is that the ads were pulled because of complaints from the US. We Brits are supposed to be the upholders of all things Godlike.
Is it the Obama influence? Or has Mr Bush got too much time on his hands and is watching daytime Freeview?
Come on! We don’t complain that the World Series does not include anyone outside the US. Or that you never let Elvis come here to visit us.
The serious point I see in all this is that once again advertising is being left behind by the real world and by that I mean TV programme-makers. If we lose our edge, fast forwarding through the ads will be the norm.
Let’s look at the facts here. Kissing men have been in ads for years and over the top macho is come and gone. Levis had men stripping in public 30 years ago. Banning these ads defies common sense.
By not treating overreaction with a swift boot up the backside we are putting TV commercials even further behind the programme-makers.
Programme-makers would scoff at the ridiculous restrictions we ad people bring upon ourselves.
Companies like HBO stand up to these pipe and slipper brigades and produce visual feasts of relevance. Advertising needs to do the same. Well at least make an attempt.
In the age of Internet, we all get to see what type of advertising is being produced, no matter where it’s from. Inevitably, there’ll be a clash of cultures.
And just in case you don’t understand the headline of this post.
