What commercials have been considered offensive in your country?

Here is a list of The 10 Most Offensive US Advertisements in 2011. It makes you wonder what some of these ad agencies were thinking, as well as the companies that approved them.

Nice one @Pied_Pfeffer, the nivea one is truly bizarre.

Here is the HomeAway vacation rental company ad that was apparently blocked from that list.

Here’s the kicker: On the company website, HomeAway encouraged viewers to “customize” the ad by uploading their own photos and choosing between options to catch or decapitate the “test baby.” Nice.~

Let’s not forget the Summer’s Eve Hail to the V ad that had people all over the world and on this site up in arms.

I only know of this one, but it is ancient.

Now you’re cooking with ga…..oops!

@Pied_Pfeffer I think most of those are kinda… funny… don’t hit me. And I laughed hysterically at the “Hail to the V” commercials!

I think some people get offended way too easily.

I’ve been hearing these Ashley Maddison commercials on satellite radio that promote extra marital affairs. I think they’re pretty offensive.

@WillWorkForChocolate I completely agree! Even the ones that I wasn’t amused by, I wasn’t necessarily offended by. I thought “Hail to the V” was amusing, and I wasn’t offended by it in the least. That Groupon one from @Pied_Pfeffer‘s link was pretty tasteless, though.

That test baby one was hilarious.

@WillWorkForChocolate I won’t hit you. And please do not shoot the messenger.

I just know from working semi-closely with our company’s marketing dept. that they conduct a lot of sample tests to measure the reactions of people to potentially new ad campaigns. They also target the audience based upon all sorts of data.

I just don’t think that these companies did enough research before releasing them, as attested to the negative feedback received and the fact that all of them were pulled.

@Fly Yes, I didn’t like that one.
@Pied_Pfeffer Couldn’t agree more about that part of it, I just think people get offended over silly things these days. Thanks for not hitting me. I’m too tired to fight back today. :D

There was some music video from the Stone Temple Pilots (I think, it was one of the 90s alternative/grunge bands) where there was a baby in a crib with a handgun that was banned.

There was a J. Crew ad with a mother painting her young son’s toenail’s pink, and tons of people were all “omg, she’s turning him gay! Or transgender!”

I don’t see what’s wrong with the chapstick one, She’s just looking for her chapstick?

@Aethelflaed I think it was just a spread in their catalog, but that whole thing was ridiculous. People were outraged over something so fun and innocent! I swear people have to look for a new thing to rant about.

@Michael_Huntington Yeah I didn’t really see anything wrong with that, either. I thought it was a really funny idea, actually! I think the problem with it was that it was an interactive Facebook ad, and people then implied that it was up her ass or something along those lines, and they chose to delete some of the comments which only made things worse.

@Fly I’m not really bothered by people being offended. I’m bothered by the homophobia and transphobia in that specific freakout, but I don’t really see anything wrong with trying to change the world to be what you think would be a better one.

I’m offended by TV advertising for toilet paper (“It’s time to get serious about what goes on in the bathroom.” Oh my Lord!!), feminine products, condoms, vibrators, penis enlargement products, and some others. It’s a good thing I hardly watch any TV.

@MollyMcGuire I’ll give you that the toilet paper commercial referenced is just plain bad. Offensive to me? No. Just silly? Yes. @ucme For your viewing pleasure.

So are the Charmin toilet paper commercials. @ucme For your viewing pleasure. I used to buy Charmin despite the silly Mr. Whipple commericals. Once the bear series came out, I’ve moved on to a generic brand. I just cannot get serious about toilet paper, nor do I worry about fragments left behind on my bare bottom like these cartoon bears do. (Pun intended.)

“I think some people get offended way too easily.”
Wins the award for no-brainer answer of the day, so far at least :¬)
Cheers folks, good stuff.

Some of the Benetton commercials.