WWF's unwanted 9/11 ad
Why the wildlife conservation group might sue a Brazilian advertising firm
It's not a good idea to use Sept. 11 as an advertising theme, said Hamilton Nolan in Gawker. "It's really not." To understand why, consider the ad, titled "Tsunami," created by a Brazilian ad firm, DDB Brasil, depicting dozens of airliners flying toward lower Manhattan, while the World Trade Center twin towers are still standing. The ad was done on spec for the World Wildlife Fund, which understandably was not amused.
That's an understatement, said Ed Morrissey in Hot Air. The WWF condemned the ad, calling it "offensive and tasteless," and said it may sue DDB Brasil for releasing the ad—complete with a WWF logo displayed prominently at the top—without the wildlife conservation organization's permission. "Whoever thought of trivializing and commercializing the murders of 3,000 people for an ad campaign about conservation needs to search deep within themselves to determine whether their soul exists."
"Exploiting one tragedy to try to prevent another is just stupid and self-defeating," said David Gianatasio in AdFreak, "and will always backfire." The message in the ad was: "The tsunami killed 100 times more people than 9/11. The planet is brutally powerful. Respect it. Preserve it." But "respect is the main thing lacking" in this "tasteless, nightmarish print ad."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
WWF rejected the ad, said Jen Carlson in Gothamist, but DDB Brasil apparently entered it in the One Show competition, and won an award for public service. "Okay, so who wants to make a mock-up of 1,000 Nazi soldiers being catapulted into Thailand?"
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Xi-Biden meeting: what's in it for both leaders?
Today's Big Question Two superpowers seek to stabilise relations amid global turmoil but core issues of security, trade and Taiwan remain
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will North Korea take advantage of Israel-Hamas conflict?
Today's Big Question Pyongyang's ties with Russia are 'growing and dangerous' amid reports it sent weapons to Gaza
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published