14 Ads That Would Never Fly Today
They have always been commercials and advertisements steeped in controversy. Some receive backlash instantly, while others take time or a more enlightened viewpoint.
While we should always remember times and ideas change, sometimes ads have too many troubling aspects to ignore or excuse.
Examining the ever-changing landscape of the world and advertising illuminates some fascinating campaigns. In today’s age, the most egregious ones will confuse, shock, and embolden us to do better as a society. After all, you can have fun and be bold without being insensitive.
1. Flintstones Winston Cigarettes Commercial
In the 1960s, during the early seasons of the prime-time (and family-friendly) animated series The Flintstones, Winston Cigarettes sponsored the show. Although cigarette companies frequently sponsored shows, seeing beloved cartoon characters talk about and smoke cigarettes still remains a shocking image—especially in today’s society.
In the ad, Fred and Barney complain about seeing their wives work so hard, so they decide to go where they can’t see them. The two then proceed to discuss the benefits and great taste of Winston cigarettes.
The pair’s lazy, unappreciative attitude toward their wives alone would put people off today. The cigarettes take it to a whole other uncomfortable and off-putting level. Can you imagine an ad where Mickey Mouse or Elsa and Anna promoted cigarettes?
2. Brooke Shields’ Calvin Klein Commercials
Sadly, there was a time when provocative advertising included very young participants, particularly young women. In the now infamous Calvin Klein ad campaign, a 15-year-old Brooke Shields donned a pair of jeans and said, “You want to know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing.” Other ads followed with similar double entendres.
While this type of advertising still exists, including a minor in such a campaign would never be considered today, rightly so. Shields admits that her naivety kept her from understanding the uproar the commercials caused. Still, the critical takeaway remains the same. The exploitation of children has no place in the world.
3. “More Doctors Smoke Camels”
In an R.J. Reynolds campaign for Camel Cigarettes that ran from 1940 to 1949, the slogan read “More Doctors Smoke Camels.” The thought process of the ads stems from the very nature of the doctors’ profession. Generally speaking (at least in that era), people trusted doctors because of their education and compassion. Trusting individuals, therefore, believe that if a doctor says they smoke camels, then it must be alright.
Obviously, such a campaign would not and should not ever be acceptable today. Moral and health aspects aside, the people showcased in these ads were not even real doctors but actors dressed as such.
4. Hyundai’s “Pipe Job”
Some advertisements are so offensive and insensitive that it boggles the mind how they could ever be approved. Hyundai’s “Pipe Job” commercial falls into this category. In the ad, a man sits alone in his iX35 SUV. He says nothing, but his demeanor clearly implies he intends to end his own life by breathing in harmful exhaust fumes. Then comes the twist. His plan has a flaw. This Hyundai only emits water vapor.
Understandably, people took great umbrage with the commercial, prompting Hyundai to take down the ad and apologize. Making light of something so serious should never be the hook of an ad. The most surprising thing would be that this ad did not air decades ago, but relatively recently in 2013.
5. Bloomingdale’s “Spike the Eggnog” Advertisement
Like Hyundai’s severe lack of good judgment, it’s difficult to fathom how an advertisement like the one in Bloomingdale’s holiday catalog from 2015 could possibly happen. Even before the #MeToo movement, society had become much more conscious about the issues women face, particularly consent and assault.
The ad in question features a woman laughing while a man behind her has a somewhat sinister look on his face. The caption reads, “Spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking.” Beyond the confusion on how this can possibly have anything to do with the department store, this problematic ad seemingly promotes violent and dangerous behavior. That begs the question: what were they thinking?
6. Jeno’s Frozen Pizza
Making light of serious issues seems to be a common theme with problematic ads and commercials. One commercial for Jeno’s Frozen Pizza does this in an attempt to be clever and funny. The spot plays out like a classic noir film. A husband kicks down a door, frightening his unsuspecting, screaming wife. She’s relieved it’s him, but he proceeds to hit her with the frozen pizza box as she asks him to be “tender.”
While the intent seems to be making an homage to classic cinema, the result rather inadvertently makes light of domestic violence. Though not as overt or troubling as other commercials, it still would never fly in today’s age.
7. Bull of the Woods Chewing Tobacco
Most vintage advertisements for tobacco and cigarettes feel shocking today because we know the extreme harm these products cause. But old ads would always present them as delicious, enticing, and beneficial.
A Bull of the Woods Chewing Tobacco commercial portrays a bull who wants to join a singing group but has a voice too high. However, by prolonged chewing of the tobacco, his voice deepens. In the end, his voice, lungs, and overall health change for the worse, but hey, at least he gets to sing with the other bulls. Like most tobacco adverts, it’s irresponsible, misleading, and despicable.
8. Hacienda Family Mexican Restaurant Billboard
If a restaurant makes fun or light of a tragic event, you know they’ve gone too far. It makes us wonder how owners could be so irresponsible and insensitive. The billboard in question for the Hacienda Family Mexican Restaurant featured a drink with the headings, “We’re Like a Cult with Better Kool-Aid” and “To Die For.”
This slogan references the Jonestown massacre of 1978, where more than 900 people died after drinking grape Kool-Aid mixed with cyanide. How could anyone possibly believe that such an in-poor-taste billboard would go over well? The marketing and sales Vice President, Jeff Leslie, said they seek attention, not controversy, in their ads. Next time, avoid referencing the slaughter of innocent lives.
9. Dracon Slacks “Walk All Over Her” Advertisement
When we look at vintage advertisements, they often look like they’ve come from another planet. So many have such wild, over-the-top, overt misogyny. Watching any episode of Mad Men reminds us of how the advertising industry of the 1950s and 1960s reeked of misogynistic behavior.
One Dracon Slacks print ad proves especially shocking and disturbing by today’s standards (though it should have always been). The ad shows a man standing on top of a woman in the form of an animal-skin rug. His foot rests on top of her head, while the ad says one look at him in his trousers, and she’s ready for him to “walk all over her.”
As the BBC points out, the concept involved a woman being “floored” by her man. Instead of feeling clever, this just comes across as troubling and making fun of violence or dominance over women.
10. Nivea’s “White Purity” Advertisement
Our diverse world has no time for intolerance, racism, and bigotry. Though it can be inadvertently done, companies have a responsibility to think about the words and images they put out into the world. The ones behind Nivea’s “White Purity” campaign did not get that memo.
The ad that appeared on Nivea’s Facebook page featured a woman in an all-white outfit with the caption “White is Purity. Keep it Clean. Keep it Bright. Don’t let anything ruin it.” Naturally, many took offense to this ad, deeming it racially insensitive. Nivea responded properly by removing the ad and apologizing to those calling it out on social media. Still, one has to wonder how the company thought anyone other than bigots would receive it well.
11. Special K’s “You Can’t Pinch an Inch”
Advertisements that focus on weight, especially ones targeted towards women, permeate older ads. Today, we at least attempt to be more socially conscious and responsible about this. In the 1980s, not so much.
In this 1986 Special K commercial, the slogan emphasizes that eating their low-calorie cereal will help you avoid pinching an inch of fat on yourself. While there’s nothing wrong with promoting healthy eating habits, this ad sets unrealistic and ridiculous standards. As innocent as the ad may seem, the constant array of ideas like these can lead to body image issues and possibly worse consequences like eating disorders.
12. Love’s Baby Soft “Innocence” Campaign
Watching Love Cosmetics Baby Soft “Innocence” campaigns from the 1970s today elicits instant unsettling feelings. In the print ads, we see young girls in makeup with the tagline “Innocence is sexier than you think.” In the commercials, one woman is dressed in childlike attire, seductively licking a lollipop.
At best, we can describe it as cringe-worthy and, at worst, disturbing and creepy. One has to wonder why it was not always thought of that way. After seeing these advertisements, we feel like we need to bleach our eyes and call Dateline.
13. Dove’s Black and White Models
In an ad meant to demonstrate how Dove products work on all skin types, women of different races transform into each other. Specifically, a black woman turns into a white woman, who turns into a woman from the Middle East. Dove’s effort to be inclusive and diverse had good intentions but with poor execution.
Although this Dove campaign resulted in mixed responses, those who did take offense had valid points. The company offered profuse apologies for missing the mark. Consequently, it’s doubtful we’ll ever see a similar promo again.
14. Carl’s Jr. Provocative Commercials
Provocative advertisements have been around for decades. Some take no issue with them, others strongly oppose them. Though nothing new, the Carl’s Jr. commercials from the 2000s did take things to another level.
These ads typically show scantily clad women eating a hamburger in a very seductive way. Obviously appealing to some, these somewhat exploitative ads have no place in the current social landscape. One of the worst examples would be the “Tex Mex” commercial, which manages to be misogynistic and low-key racist simultaneously.
