Virgin Mobile US cops flak for 'rape' joke

Virgin Mobile US cops flak for 'rape' joke

Sir Richard Branson has been forced to step in after an online Virgin Mobile US Christmas ad was blasted for making fun of rape.

The ad (below), which has now been removed, featured a gift-holding man covering the eyes of a woman with a caption that read: “The gift of Christmas surprise. Necklace? Or  chloroform?”

The reference to chloroform, an anesthetic which can render people unconscious, was quickly slammed on Twitter with many angered consumers tweeting their thoughts to Branson.

Branson labeled the ad “ill-judged” and a “dreadful mistake” in a statement on his blog: “Having just seen, for the first time, the Virgin Mobile US advert which has upset many today, I agree it is ill-judged.”

“Although I don't own the company, it carries our brand. I will speak to the team there, make my thoughts clear and see what can be done about it.

                

“Virgin Mobile US usually get these things right, although on this occasion it is clear they have gone too far.”

Branson later updated his blog to ensure consumers that the advert and the entire calendar had been removed “never to be seen again”: “Having spoken with them the team has confirmed this was a rogue post by an external agency that was not approved by Virgin Mobile US.”

“They acknowledge a dreadful mistake has been made.”




Please login with linkedin to comment

Latest News

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm
  • Media

Sydney Comedy Festival: Taking The City & Social Media By Storm

Sydney Comedy Festival 2024 is live and ready to rumble, showing the best of international and homegrown talent at a host of venues around town. As usual, it’s hot on the heels of its big sister, the giant that is the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, picking up some acts as they continue on their own […]

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth
  • Advertising

Global Marketers Descend For AANA’s RESET For Growth

The Australian Association of National Advertisers (AANA) has announced the final epic lineup of local and global marketing powerhouses for RESET for Growth 2024. Lead image: Josh Faulks, chief executive officer, AANA  Back in 2000, a woman with no business experience opened her first juice bar in Adelaide. The idea was brilliantly simple: make healthy […]