Website: gusygirl.com Five Funny Controversial Super Bowl Commercials Whether you consider them an entertaining bonus or they’re the only reason you watch the big game, funny Super Bowl commercials are some of the best of the year. Because there’s so much pressure for advertisers to make an impact each year, the ads have become increasingly provocative, risking censorship for the sake of comedy. The following five ads were received with dubious reviews from some viewers; although funny, these commercials were also highly controversial. 1. Bud Light, 2001: Carlos Mencia has been criticised for plagiarism and political incorrectness; Bud Light beer commercials are famous (or infamous) for being raunchy, crude and generally shocking. Mencia starring in a Bud Light ad was bound to be messy. Sure enough, the commercial was denounced for being racist. Very racist. Although some viewers found Mencia teaching a immigrants English via pickup lines and requests for beer hilarious, many were offended by the depictions of racial and ethnic stereotypes. Whether you consider this commercial funny or crude, it’s undeniably one of the Super Bowl’s most well-known. - Link :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJt35ntcaec - Code: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/aJt35ntcaec" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/technology/06ihtadco.1.9785515.html?pagewanted=all 2. Groupon, 2011: The virtual coupon company aired three controversial commercials during Super Bowl XLV. Despite Groupon’s Twitter claims that “Like standing too close to a rainbow, viewers’ hearts are warmed by #Groupon’s Super Bowl ad,” general response was negative. Whether it’s Timothy Hutton lamenting the fate of Tibetian culture over a discount curry dish, Elizabeth Hurley expressing her delight over a half-priced Brazilian wax despite the deforestation of rainforests, or Cuba Gooding Jr. claiming that a whale-watching cruise is much better than saving the endangered creatures, Groupon created quite a stir. The young company wasn’t known for its top commercials when these aired, and these didn’t help. - Links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mP_yScodndg - Code: <iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mP_yScodndg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Source: http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/groupons-super-bowl-debut-raisesire/
3. GoDaddy, 2013: It was hard to identify which of GoDaddy’s many commercials is considered its most controversial. The company has a long history of barely making it past the censorship radar if at all, and yet again, this one proved that its marketing team is creative if nothing else. A demonstration of how “smart meets sexy,” the commercial features supermodel Bar Refaeli and geeky Jesse Heiman engaging in a sloppy, cringe-worthy moment of intimacy. Viewers were shocked and disgusted, as well as offended by the sexist and objectifying undertones. It’s hard to say if this if Go Daddy’s best commercial ever considering its track record, but it’s certainly one of the most memorable. - Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nvpD_eQgTo - Code: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/9nvpD_eQgTo" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Source: http://www.cnn.com/2013/02/05/living/super-bowl-ads-notbuyingit 4. SalesGenie 2008: This is a rare case where public reaction was so negative, the company actually had to apologize. The commercial stars two heavily-accented Chinese pandas whose bamboo store is going out of business until Salesgenie sweeps in and saves the day. The ad was denounced for its overt racial stereotypes and was later pulled (although the other Salesgenie ad, featuring Indian salesperson Ramesh, remained on the air). One of the more explicitly offensive commercials on this list, the infamous panda Super Bowl ad marks one of Salesgenies low points. - Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inB4uInnf4U - Code: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/inB4uInnf4U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Source: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/06/technology/06ihtadco.1.9785515.html?pagewanted=all 5. Skechers 2012: This one created a monumental outcry months before it aired. As soon as animal-lovers and activists caught wind of the commercial’s concept -- a bulldog competing in a greyhound dog race -- they started Internet campaigns and petitions to pull it before game day. The shoe company won, just as their underdog protagonist does in the 30-second clip. Despite the controversy, the commercial was widely considered one of the best that year. Whether you think it wrongly glamorizes dog racing or was actually one of the funniest commercials of all time, it’s undoubtedly a Super Bowl legend. - Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4OPcA0DHdc - Code: <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/f4OPcA0DHdc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> Sources: http://www.businessinsider.com/exclusive-potential-skechers-super-bowlad-protested-for-featuring-cruelty-of-dog-racing-2012-1
http://www.mlive.com/lansingnews/index.ssf/2012/02/skechers_dog_race_commercial_t.html
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