Advertising/Media
Six contentious races from 2024: what went wrong


By Kajal Sharma - 02 Jan 2025 09:32 PM
For advertising to be remembered, it must have an impact. Although it doesn't always work, some firms aren't above igniting controversy to boost sales. These five campaigns in 2024 came very close to the line.The campaign title for the Unilever brand is "Nothing Satisfies Like a Pot Noodle." In 2024, a Pot Noodle that had (likely) one of the longest, most visceral slurps ever shown in the UK gave us a lot of satisfaction.The peculiar sound that was intended to highlight the product's delightful flavor wasn't to everyone's taste. Many people disliked the advertisement for being unpleasant and disruptive, while others thought it was funny. A "slurpless" version was produced in response to the criticism, although it was unable to completely resolve the issue. For next TVCs, the brand toned down the slurp, perhaps in a very tongue-in-cheek way.Additionally, it expanded on the fame by launching a "apology" campaign.2. The rebranding of Jaguar's "Project Roar" is more meow When a brand carries over its history, what happens? Well, the latest case study is Jaguar's rebranding. Jaguar unveiled the 'Project Roar' campaign, which featured futuristic design, cryptic wording, and abstract imagery as part of its shift to an all-electric luxury brand. The ad, according to critics, alienated devoted customers and separated the brand from its automotive heritage. Even though it attracted notice, many wondered if Jaguar's core demographic found it compelling.3. Google's "Dear Sydney" misrepresents AI narrative Google used an ad called 'Dear Sydney,' which portrayed a youngster utilizing AI to compose a touching letter to an athlete, to promote their Gemini AI during the 2024 Olympics. Although the purpose of the advertisement was to showcase Gemini's potential, some claimed it over-glorified AI and undermined true human creativity. Because of the overwhelming public criticism, Google finally removed the advertisement.4.
The AI Christmas Ad for Coca-Cola Coca-Cola used AI to produce a holiday commercial that included viewers' personalized greetings and a hyper-realistic winter wonderland. Rehashing the popular 'Holidays Are Coming' song, which has been in use for decades, gave them a lot of brand equity to work with. Despite being novel, marketers criticized the ad for feeling impersonal and chilly in contrast to the brand's customarily endearing Christmas ads. It lacked the magic and human touch that Coca-Cola is known for, according to many.5. The "Crush" campaign by Apple Look, big tech is making a mistake once more. Apple's 'smash' campaign used a pneumatic press to smash home and hobby goods into the new iPad in order to increase the amount of functions that fit into the gadget. While the visuals were impressive, many criticized the ad of being unnecessarily violent and dramatic, generating questions about the ethics of glorifying devastation to sell items.6. The 'Vow of Celibacy' on Bumble embarrasses Women criticized a billboard with a celibacy theme from Bumble's recent "Opening Moves" campaign, claiming it was off-brand and tone deaf. The ad's poor timing was pointed out by strategists and creatives, as it was released immediately after Tinder's safety-focused "Share My Date" feature and during a period of increased discussion about women's safety.