Jim Edwards at BNET reported that Molson Coors Canada pulled 30 billboards like the one depicted above in British Columbia after offending folks in Toronto. A company spokesman mumbled, “We basically realize we’ve had a misfire here … It was a local insight. The intention was kind of playing off an East-West rivalry, but we’re sorry because obviously we’ve offended some people.” The advertising agency responsible is Draftfcb, which is on quite an offensive streak. The shop already displayed insensitivity for the same global client with a campaign for Miller Lite that pushed negative Italian-American stereotypes. And the list of audiences insulted by Draftfcb keeps growing and growing. These admorons are more culturally clueless than most people from, well, Draftfcb.
But wait, there’s more.
In an ironic twist, AAF Diversity Achievement and Mosaic Awards 2009 saw fit to hand its AAF District Two Diversity Achievement Award for Industry Career Achiever to Heide Gardner, SVP, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer of Interpublic Group. Interpublic Group is the parent company of Draftfcb. Look for Howard Draft to nab an ADCOLOR® Award.
Ironic, no its failure. Ultimate fail.
ReplyDeleteWhy the hell are agencies getting diversity awards when their advertising is culturally clueless, and their agencies aren't diversity. Being awarded for failing when it comes to diversity is sick. Damn in this industry you can get awarded for failing to really diversify. ahahahaha