WTF: Belvedere Vodka Makes Ad Joking About Rape, Pulls It After Outrage Ensues
I’m convinced some companies don’t have women OR minorities on their marketing teams because the offensive ads just keep coming.
Today, high-end vodka company Belvedere posted an ad to its Facebook page which depicted a man grabbing an unwilling woman from behind and the tagline, “Unlike some people, Belvedere always goes down smoothly.”
Really?!?
Belvedere quickly pulled the ad after many chimed in on its Facebook and Twitter pages about its offensive nature, but the fact that it was made in the first place speaks volumes about the company.
Belvedere quickly issued a half-hearted apology, tweeting, “We apologize to any of our fans who were offended by our recent tweet. We continue to be an advocate of safe and responsible drinking.”
Oh…that’s SO much better, and by better I mean…are you kidding me?! But I do know one thing: I know what type of vodka not to buy next I’m ordering my gimlet.
UPDATE
Late this afternoon, I received an email from the folks over on Belvedere Vodka apologizing, again, for the offensive ad. This updated apology seems a bit more thought out.
Check it:
“I am Jason Lundy, SVP of Global Marketing for Belvedere.
Unfortunately a Facebook & Twitter posting was made today that has offended many of our fans and followers — and indeed the people who work here at Belvedere. The post is absolutely inconsistent with our values and beliefs and in addition to removing the offensive post we are committed to making sure that something like this doesn’t happen again. As an expression of our deep disappointment and regret, we are making a charitable donation to a women’s support cause. We deeply apologize to our fans & followers.”
So many on the LEFT with their panties twisted on this one…there is nothing offense about it…weenies…
says the TROLL!
@African MAMMIE,
Look at who drunk the drive-by-media’s FOOL-aid before checking it out for the ingredients! BOAR!!!
-U sho do get riled up by my heritage!!!!!
@African MAMMIE
Why would I do that? I am black American, and by definition have African in me. You however are a femi-liberal-nazi with extreme heightist tendencies.
Here is a tip: I use absurdity to highlight things I find absurd, so WHENEVER you see me making an absurd statement, instead of taking offense at what I typed, try to UNDERSTAND what absurd thing I am pointing to and what I am getting at! Simple.
I tried the simple direct approach (SDA) years ago, but in these days my dear it DOES NOT WORK, especially on my fellow humans on the EXTREME LEFT…
@ DKS
Take your hang ups to Calvary! Otherwise, you just come across as a man who is bitter about trivial shit!
@ DKS
Take your hang ups to Calvary! Otherwise, you just come across as a man who is bitter about trivial shit! Stay blessed and warm on this cold cold Sunday!
1.) I have no hangups.
2.) I am in no way bitter, and having an opinion about something and expressing it does not imply bitterness in any way.
3.) It is about 75 where I am at…
@ Donald…
“So many on the LEFT with their panties twisted on this one…there is nothing offense about it…weenies…”
Thanks for posting this. Thanks for admitting that those on the RIGHT like you obviously hate women and believe that forcing ANY sexual act on a woman is funny. Thanks for showing your ass.
I wonder how offended you would be if this was a big butch dude holding your little frightened ass down. Not so funny anymore right?
@FLG17,
I am indeed liberal, but not so far left that I cannot think straight, unlike you and others on here…
@FLG17,
I am indeed liberal, but not so far left that I cannot think straight, unlike you and others on here…
Seems to me they’ve use the all too common advertising ploy of contrived controversy. Taking a social issue and treating it in some insensitive way that incites anger.
Get people beefing about your crappy product, then pretend to be responsive to the complaints by apologising and pulling the ad once you’ve milked the “furor” for all extra unit sales milage to be had out of it.
They should be made the donate the extra sales to worthwhile charities as punishment.
Personally I’d like to see the abolition of all advertising.
they should be made *to* donate . . .
abolition of advertising would be the death of all marketing practitioners! I highly disagree with your statement. How about establishing ethical bounds.
@African Mami
Hope you don’t work in advertising AM, but I have to stand by my convictions. I think sales, marketing and advertising have no social utility. On the contrary, they are industries that create artificial “needs”.
oh mi gosh!!!!!!!!
They do but unlike you they have sense of humor.
This add is SUPER offensive, even guys should find this mean spirited and lacking in taste. That half-assed apology about customers who “may” have found this offensive is infuriating because they knew exactly what was being implied in that add and still gave it the okay. I am boycotting this brand for life, I at least think rape is terrible and don’t find it amusing for alcohol companies to promote the crime as a way to sell their product.
I thought she was choking…hence “go down smoothly?” IDK..i dont get it.