Baby and Cockroach
In 2003, the UK children's charity Barnardo's came out with the ad below. It promptly triggered numerous complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority. Barnardo's argued that it "caused distress for good reason, but the ASA banned the ad anyway, saying it could "cause serious or widespread offense."
The ad was subsequently voted one of the top 10 ads of 2003 by Campaign magazine.
Of course, the charity must have known it was likely the ad would get banned, but evidently figured the controversy would attract more attention to their message than something more subdued.
The ad was subsequently voted one of the top 10 ads of 2003 by Campaign magazine.
Of course, the charity must have known it was likely the ad would get banned, but evidently figured the controversy would attract more attention to their message than something more subdued.
Comments
I prefer the TV ad. The paper ad makes it look as if the baby was already dead and cockroaches were feasting on its corpse.
Posted by Yudith on 08/15/20 at 06:45 AM
Ugh! Horrific!
I can see how it would be effective, though.
I can see how it would be effective, though.
Posted by Judy on 08/15/20 at 02:42 PM
Reminds me of the Pelleton ads of the 80s which showed same sex couples kissing. At the time they were considered outrageous and were banned most places. But they generated far more publicity than if they had run as conventional ads.
Posted by Brian on 08/17/20 at 05:56 PM
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Category: Babies | Charities and Philanthropy | Insects and Spiders | Advertising | Nausea, Revulsion and Disgust