Amex Learns Surfing the Waves Not Exactly Perfect Timing After Tsunami Newscast

Philip Stone February 24, 2005

Having watched extended coverage of the tsunami disaster viewers on British television were then treated to an American Express advertisement featuring surfer Laird Hamilton riding the big ones. Not exactly the most tactful message to show at that particular moment.
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The ad was eventually voluntarily withdrawn, but the UK’s Advertising Standards Authority has ruled the ad should not have been shown in the first place around news programs about the tsunami. It said viewers “were likely to have perceived a connection between images of large waves in the advertisement and the disaster itself.”

It should be noted that Amex made a $1 million donation to tsunami relief.

Pepsi had the smarts to delay its very expensive major campaign starring soccer greats  David Beckham, Ronaldinho, and Thierrey Henry. They were playing soccer on a beach in front of a giant wave.

Meanwhile Johnny Walker whiskey has decided it should not only “Keep Walking” but it has agreed to pay up to £45 million pounds over three years to ensure a first-class ride on McClaren’s Formula 1 team.

Tobacco interests have sponsored McClaren since 1977, but the EC, trying to improve the health of its citizens, has banned tobacco sponsorship as of July 31 and whiskey takes over the next day. Whiskey is healthier than tobacco?

Kimi Raikkonen - My Hero

Diageo, the world’s largest spirits company and owner of Johnny Walker, says it will devote £2 million a year to promote responsible drinking, while at the same time hoping to boost sales to 25-35 year-old males.

They may want to spend some of that money close to home on McClaren’s own  driver,  Kimi Raikkonen. In recent weeks he has been involved in alcohol-related headlines featuring, for instance, his competing with a lap dancer in a London Club for who could do the best striptease.

If Raikkonen gets out of hand then McClaren could turn to a Ruddles Ale ad, just banned in the UK, for ideas on how to handle the situation. The ad features a double barrel shotgun pointing directly at the reader (driver) with the tag line,” Excuse me, I believe that’s my seat”

With more than 50 complaints, the Advertising Standards Authority said such an image, “could be seen as threatening and was likely to cause widespread offense.”

But Raikkonen would certainly get the message!

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Pepsi Resurrects Beckham Surfing Ad - July 16, 2005

When you pay the kind of money Pepsi paid David Beckham, England’s premier footballer, you want at some time to get your money’s worth, and Pepsi figures that seven months after pulling its ad featurng Beckham surfing now is the right time. But still not on television.

The Beckham ad, which shows various football stars jumping off surfboards to kick footballs, was withdrawn after the Asian Tsunami for fear it would be considered insensitive and cause a public backlash. Pepsi also donated $1 million to the Tsunami appeal.

Now seven months on and Pepsi intends to use the ad just online to promote its UK Thirst for Football campaign.