Pepsi kills ads depicting suicide - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Janice · 12-04-2008, 06:43 PM

Pepsi kills ads depicting suicide

MORBID: Pepsi nixed an ad campaign for a beverage featuring
‘One very, very, very lonely calorie,’ which is personified shooting
and hanging himself.

Pepsi has pulled a controversial print advertisement that uses suicide to sell a single-calorie drink.

The three-illustration Pepsi Max ad depicts “one very, very, very lonely calorie” attempting to take his own life by strangulation, shooting, drinking poison, attaching itself to a bomb and slitting its wrist.

“I’m shocked that a terrific company like Pepsi would use these kind of images to sell products,” said Robert Gebbia, executive director of the nonprofit American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “You wouldn’t make light of other leading causes of death.”

A PepsiCo spokesman said the ad appeared in one recent issue of a German magazine, and the beverage giant has no plans to use it again.

“We agree (the illustrations) are totally inappropriate and they will not run again,” said Huw Gilbert.

Gilbert said Pepsi did not get complaints about the ads.

“If there was any reaction in Germany, we were unaware of them,” he said, without explaining why the company decided to pull the campaign.

Pepsi is not the first company to use suicide to sell products.

General Motors ran a Super Bowl spot a few years ago that depicted a robot jumping off a bridge. The ad was intended to be comical but the image sparked an uproar from suicide prevention groups. The automaker’s ad agency later edited the commercial.

Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1136681

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 12-04-2008, 06:48 PM

They seriously went ahead and thought that would be okay? How stupid.

Janice · 12-04-2008, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Pleasant Tomorrow*

They seriously went ahead and thought that would be okay? How stupid.

Come on Ashlee, you don't see how funny suicide can be?

No, I'm with you. What were they thinking, or more importantly, were they thinking? Suicide devastates so many families and to make light of it, is extremely thoughtless.

*Pleasant Tomorrow* · 12-04-2008, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Janice

Come on Ashlee, you don't see how funny suicide can be?

No, I'm with you. What were they thinking, or more importantly, were they thinking? Suicide devastates so many families and to make light of it, is extremely thoughtless.

And even seriousness aside, I'm suprised they wouldn't even stop to think that they would receive backlash about it in the first place. As professionals, they should know that such a serious topic wouldn't go over well with people. It's common sense.

Hollow · 12-04-2008, 08:20 PM

http://www.frederiksamuel.com/blog/2...pepsi-max.html

disgusting! it's one thing to hint that the calorie is depressed (which is a ******** idea to begin with). it's another to make grossly detailed pictures of violent suicides to promote a damn soda. seems like just a big cry for attention to me. i would guess it's aimed at the 13-17 year old crowd since they're mostly the ones who find suicide funny.

browneyes106 · 12-04-2008, 11:14 PM

I don't think ad is too bad but it does have a weird concept.

catlover79 · 12-04-2008, 11:40 PM

Good grief! That is just sick.

robyrob · 12-05-2008, 12:11 AM

poor taste aside, i fail to understand how they thought this concept would help them sell more sodas.

InspectorExstead · 12-05-2008, 12:38 AM

i agree. using suicide to sell product is just not smart. they obviously weren't thinking at all. i can't see how that would encourage people to buy their product.

TripperFan · 12-05-2008, 02:28 AM

Sorry - but that's really ****ed right up!

catlover79 · 12-05-2008, 02:37 AM

^ Cathie, you just said it all!

JamesG · 12-05-2008, 06:24 AM

This is something one can expect to find in MadMagazine or some satirical joke website...
NOT AN ACTUAL AD!!

12-04-2008, 06:43 PM	#1
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Pepsi kills ads depicting suicide Pepsi kills ads depicting suicide MORBID: Pepsi nixed an ad campaign for a beverage featuring ‘One very, very, very lonely calorie,’ which is personified shooting and hanging himself. Pepsi has pulled a controversial print advertisement that uses suicide to sell a single-calorie drink. The three-illustration Pepsi Max ad depicts “one very, very, very lonely calorie” attempting to take his own life by strangulation, shooting, drinking poison, attaching itself to a bomb and slitting its wrist. “I’m shocked that a terrific company like Pepsi would use these kind of images to sell products,” said Robert Gebbia, executive director of the nonprofit American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. “You wouldn’t make light of other leading causes of death.” A PepsiCo spokesman said the ad appeared in one recent issue of a German magazine, and the beverage giant has no plans to use it again. “We agree (the illustrations) are totally inappropriate and they will not run again,” said Huw Gilbert. Gilbert said Pepsi did not get complaints about the ads. “If there was any reaction in Germany, we were unaware of them,” he said, without explaining why the company decided to pull the campaign. Pepsi is not the first company to use suicide to sell products. General Motors ran a Super Bowl spot a few years ago that depicted a robot jumping off a bridge. The ad was intended to be comical but the image sparked an uproar from suicide prevention groups. The automaker’s ad agency later edited the commercial. Article URL: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1136681

12-04-2008, 06:48 PM	#2
Pleasant Tomorrow Member Forum Addict Join Date: Feb 19, 2003 Location: New York Posts: 69,525	They seriously went ahead and thought that would be okay? How stupid.
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12-04-2008, 11:40 PM	#7
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	Good grief! That is just sick.
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12-05-2008, 12:11 AM	#8
robyrob certified wackball#3 Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 03, 2003 Location: hiding under the third booth at Arnold's Posts: 58,203	poor taste aside, i fail to understand how they thought this concept would help them sell more sodas.
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12-05-2008, 12:38 AM	#9
InspectorExstead Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Oct 29, 2001 Location: The Golden State Posts: 12,902	i agree. using suicide to sell product is just not smart. they obviously weren't thinking at all. i can't see how that would encourage people to buy their product.
	__________________ They killed my sister because she asked: "Where is my vote?" http://sosiran.com/ http://tapeshhd.com/index.php

12-04-2008, 08:20 PM	#5
Hollow Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Dec 16, 2001 Posts: 30,406	http://www.frederiksamuel.com/blog/2...pepsi-max.html disgusting! it's one thing to hint that the calorie is depressed (which is a ******** idea to begin with). it's another to make grossly detailed pictures of violent suicides to promote a damn soda. seems like just a big cry for attention to me. i would guess it's aimed at the 13-17 year old crowd since they're mostly the ones who find suicide funny.

12-04-2008, 11:14 PM	#6
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	I don't think ad is too bad but it does have a weird concept.

12-05-2008, 02:28 AM	#10
TripperFan In God's Arms Now Forum Star Join Date: Sep 14, 2003 Location: Heartbreak Ridge Posts: 12,086	Sorry - but that's really ****ed right up!
	__________________ If I don't see you in this world, I'll meet you in the next one.....don't be late James Marshall Hendrix Voodoo Chile The Forum Legend formerly known as TripperFan "religion is for people who are afraid of hell--spirituality is for people who have been through hell"---anonymous

12-05-2008, 02:37 AM	#11
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	^ Cathie, you just said it all!

12-05-2008, 06:24 AM	#12
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 57,168	This is something one can expect to find in MadMagazine or some satirical joke website... NOT AN ACTUAL AD!!