Schweppes pulls ad campaign after flu crack falls flat
Controversial ad campaigns about Mexico seem to keep popping up.
This time, it was a campaign running in the UK from Coca-Cola Schweppes. The ad, which ran for just one day on May 15 in The Times (of London) newspapers, was quickly withdrawn after complaints from Mexico’s embassy in London.
The soft drinks’ advertising agency Mother London created a number of illustrations as part of a series of ads called “Experience Matters.”
The image in question featured an illustration of a man wearing a huge Mexican sombrero on London’s Underground subway system, with a box of tissues by his side.
The ad was intended to be a humorous take on the H1N1 influenza strain that was first detected in Mexico and has now spread to a number of countries, including the United Kingdom. According to the World Health Organization, the UK has reported 112 cases but no deaths from the virus.
A statement from Coca-Cola Great Britain, sent to us via email, said: “The essence of the Schweppes ‘Experience Matters’ campaign is celebrating the very British tradition of satire. The cartoons are designed to bring a smile to an otherwise gloomy news agenda and reflect topical issues in the news.
“It is not our intention to offend however, and following discussions with the Mexican Embassy in London, we took the decision to remove the advert immediately.”
Other controversial ad campaigns concerning Mexico recently have included Burger King’s promo here and Absolut’s advertising last year.
– Deborah Bonello in Mexico City for La Plaza.
Category: culture
There is no funny side
cuz this h1n1 has taken so many lives
im from mexico and i have my degree in advertising
u cant use an ad like this
Fuckin Coca Cola company should have more respect for Mexico
cuz is the number one country in the world consuming their product
Boycott Coca Cola Products for 6 months and hit them in their pocket book. How insensitive is this ad, not just to Mexico but to anyone who has had a family member affected by this deadly flu? Seems to me that the Schweppes Executives that authorized this ad are the ones who need some common sense experience!
I CAN NOT BELIEVE HOW MUCH IGNORANCE THERE IS… GEEE.. NOW I SEE WHY THE QUEENIE LOOKS LIKE A MENTAL RETARDED
I WILL DRINK PEPSI ONLY, FROM NOW ON..
BY THE WAY, U STOOPID DORKS…MEXICO IS NORTH AMERICA…DO THEY HAVE GEOGRAPHY LESSONS IN THE UK?
Boycott Coca- Cola and share this news that the UK wanted to hide taking the ad in one day for nobody else to see their racism.
Leave it to the brits and their pathetic, inbred, warped sense of humor. They are the reason the world has been so flucked up.