10 Controversial Commercials That Were Not Banned

Commercials are designed to grab attention, but some ads end up sparking more controversy than intended. Despite public outrage, these ten commercials managed to avoid being banned, even if they were eventually pulled off the air.

#10: Dove Body Wash Ad (2017)

Dove In 2017, Dove’s attempt to promote diversity in their “Real Beauty” campaign backfired. The ad featured poor editing that quickly led to accusations of racial insensitivity. The backlash was intense, with many viewers condemning the commercial as racist. Dove quickly pulled the ad and issued an apology, but the damage was already done. Despite its short-lived run, the commercial’s impact on Dove’s reputation was significant.

#9: “Make Safe Happen” (2015)

Nationwide Nationwide aired this ad during the 2015 Super Bowl, aiming to raise awareness about preventable home accidents. However, the ad’s focus on a child’s death felt too dark and manipulative for such a widely watched event. Viewers were shocked by the grim content, leading to a wave of criticism. Nationwide defended the ad’s intent, but the unsettling message left many questioning its appropriateness for a Super Bowl audience.

#8: “Bob Johnson” (1997)

Holiday Inn Holiday Inn’s 1997 Super Bowl ad compared their hotel renovations to a transgender woman’s transformation. The ad aimed to be clever but instead sparked outrage for its insensitive portrayal. The backlash was swift, with many criticizing the commercial for its tone-deaf approach. Holiday Inn soon pulled the ad, recognizing that it had crossed a line. Despite this, the commercial aired during one of the biggest television events of the year.

#7: “Test Baby” (2011)

HomeAway.com HomeAway’s 2011 Super Bowl ad featured a fake baby crashing into a glass panel, aiming to highlight the safety of their rentals. While the baby was clearly a doll, the imagery disturbed many viewers. The ad’s unsettling nature overshadowed its intended message, leading to widespread criticism. HomeAway defended the commercial but eventually decided to pull it due to the negative reception. Even so, the ad had already made its mark on the audience.

#6: “Because Innocence is Sexier Than You Think” (1975)

Love’s Baby Soft In the mid-1970s, Love’s Baby Soft released a perfume ad that connected innocence with sex appeal, using baby-like imagery to promote the product. The commercial was meant to be provocative, but it ended up being creepy and unsettling. Viewers were left uncomfortable, questioning the message behind the ad. Although it aired in a different era, the commercial’s content would be considered highly inappropriate by today’s standards.

#5: “Live for Now” (2017)

Pepsi Pepsi’s 2017 ad featuring Kendall Jenner was meant to promote unity but instead was criticized for trivializing important social movements. The commercial showed Jenner resolving a protest by handing a police officer a Pepsi, which many saw as tone-deaf. The backlash was immediate, with viewers accusing Pepsi of exploiting serious issues for profit. Although the ad was pulled quickly, it remains a significant misstep in the company’s advertising history.

#4: “Pandas” Super Bowl XLII Ad (2008)

Salesgenie Salesgenie’s 2008 Super Bowl ad featured animated pandas with exaggerated Chinese accents, a choice that immediately sparked controversy. The ad relied on outdated stereotypes, which many found offensive. Despite the backlash, the commercial initially continued to air. However, the criticism eventually led Salesgenie to remove the ad from rotation. The commercial’s reliance on stereotypes made it a prime example of how not to appeal to a diverse audience.

#3: “Tibet” Super Bowl XLV Ad (2011)

Groupon Groupon’s 2011 Super Bowl ad tried to poke fun at celebrity endorsements but ended up offending viewers by trivializing the struggles of the Tibetan people. The ad featured actor Timothy Hutton enjoying a meal at a Tibetan restaurant, a stark contrast to the opening, which mentioned Tibet’s plight. The commercial was heavily criticized, and Groupon quickly pulled it, but not before it had already caused significant damage to the brand’s image.

#2: “Felicia the Goat 3rd” (2013)

Mountain Dew Mountain Dew’s ad series featuring a violent talking goat culminated in a controversial commercial that was criticized for being racist. The final ad showed the goat in a police lineup with only Black suspects, which many viewers found offensive. The backlash was swift, leading Mountain Dew to pull the ad. Despite its short run, the commercial sparked a broader conversation about race and representation in advertising.

#1: “Lemmings” Super Bowl XX Ad (1985)

Apple Apple’s 1985 Super Bowl ad was intended to be a follow-up to their iconic “1984” commercial but ended up being a misfire. The ad depicted potential Apple customers as mindless lemmings walking off a cliff, a metaphor that insulted the very audience Apple was trying to reach. The negative reaction was immediate, and the commercial was quickly pulled. Apple learned a valuable lesson from the experience, refining their advertising approach in the years that followed.