Attempting to convey a message of unity backfired as it was criticised for trivialising protests, especially the Black Lives Matter movement.
The 'Get Some Nuts' campaign featuring Mr T faced backlash for being offensive to the LGBTQ+ community and promoting violence against them.
Groupon's Super Bowl ad, attempting humour by combining human rights issues in Tibet with Groupon deals, was widely criticised and later pulled.
BP's attempt at damage control after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion faced criticism for CEO Tony Hayward's insensitive remarks in the ad.
The anti-smoking campaign featuring a man with a fish hook piercing was banned due to being deemed offensive and distressing, especially to children.
Ford's ad promoting trunk space faced backlash for depicting three women tied up in distress, driven by Silvio Berlusconi, resulting in an apology from Ford.
Hyundai's ad depicting a failed suicide attempt for the IX35 crossover faced strong criticism for its insensitivity and was removed after going viral.
The 2015 print ad by Protein World featuring a bikini-clad model sparked controversy and protests, leading to a ban by the authorities and an investigationj into health claims.
Barnardo's provocative campaign in 2003, depicting babies in pain with various items in their mouths, recieved numerous complaints and was banned.
{{ primary_category.name }}