Volkswagen TVC Accused Of Child Abuse And Neglect
The Advertising Standards Board (ASB) has received multiple complaints about a Volkswagen Australia TVC which showed a couple forgetting their daughter was in the car.
The tagline is ‘Easy to forget it’s a family car’. Check out the campaign:
The ASB received a whole host of complaints, including:
- Considering the amount of child abuse and neglect that is prevalent in our society these days should we really be using neglect of a child in a so called amusing and dismissive way just to sell a car? I find this ad very offensive
- The advertisement is extremely disturbing considering the amount of children that have accidentally been left in vehicles and have been seriously injured or have died as a result
- Seriously what’s wrong with these people!!! There’s such a huge danger of forgetting that your child is in the back seat of your car and they are boiled alive (especially in Australia heat), yet this ad prides itself on the fact that you’ll forget your kid is even in the car!
- It is in such bad taste to make fun of FORGETTING YOUR CHILD IS IN A CAR!!!
- The advertisement seems to be making this as a humorous, even light hearted case. Completely in contrast to the tragic cases where children (and pets) have died. This is very poor tastes.
In response, a Volkswagen Australia representative said: “The advertisement clearly makes use of humour and quite obvious exaggeration regarding everyday situations with children in the car. The child in the advert is never shown as being left alone in the car and is with an adult at all times and in all scenes.
“At no point does the child appear to be in distress, and much of the focus of the advertisement is put on the humour of the child’s reactions to each situation.
“The suggestion that the advertisement advocates that parents leave children unattended in cars or encourages the abandonment of children in cars is taking the literal message of the advertisement too far.”
The ASB agreed with Volkswagen, ruling that “the scenes featuring the goldfish, artwork and ice-cream were humorous and light-hearted. The Board noted that in each of these scenes at least one of the parents was still in the car with the girl and there were no health and safety concerns present”.
Latest News
SMI Data: Footy Grand Finals See Ad Spends Soar For October, As COVID Fears Subside
Australia’s media agency market is finally emerging from the COVID crisis, with the latest SMI data showing the market back just 4.8 per cent in October and the forward bookings detail confirming November and December ad demand is well above where it was at the same time last year. The October market was boosted by […]
Norwegian Cruise Line Revives Queen’s ‘I Want To Break Free’ In New Global Campaign
Norwegian Cruise Line has launched its new global brand campaign, “Break Free,” encouraging travellers to look beyond the confines of 2020 and towards a future when they can reconnect with the people and places they have missed most. Encouraging travellers to revive their destination dreams and make them holiday realities, the campaign which is a […]
Cricket Australia Boss Slams Seven For Talking “Our Wonderful Game Down”
Cricket Australia’s (CA) interim CEO Nick Hockley (main photo) has slammed broadcaster Seven for talking “our wonderful game down”. In a blistering attack on its broadcast partner, Cricket Australia lashed Seven for its ongoing legal stoush as it attempted to exit its four-year deal with the sport. As reported on B&T today, Seven West Media […]
TAC’s Christmas Campaign Via TABOO Urges Victorians To ‘Spend It Wisely’
Road safety meets a time-honoured Christmas tradition with the launch today of the Transport Accident Commission’s ‘Spend it Wisely’ advent calendar initiative, developed in close partnership with Melbourne-based creative agency TABOO. The digital advent calendar provides 25 days of road safety tips, plus offers and discounts to businesses throughout the holiday season, to help Victorians […]
PepsiCo ANZ Appoints New CMO For Snacks & Beverages
PepsiCo Australia and New Zealand has announced the appointment of Vandita Pandey to the newly created role of Chief Marketing Officer for both snacks and beverages. Pandey comes from Frito-Lay (a PepsiCo company) in the United States where she has spent the last 11 years in roles that span across marketing, corporate strategy, insights and […]
Aussie Music Stars Front New Digital Campaign For Destination NSW
A bunch of well-known Aussie musicians have been called upon to feature in a new digital marketing campaign by Destination NSW geared at convincing Australian travellers to take a road trip in the state. Informed by audience insights captured through consumer travel websites Sydney.com and VisitNSW.com, the ‘Road Trips’ campaign uses the top searched items, […]
Why DDB Sydney Is Supporting Advertising Equality Initiative ‘ShEqual’
In this guest post, DDB Sydney MD Priya Patel (pictured) discusses why DDB is supporting the launch fo shEqual, an advertising equality initiative from Women’s Health Victoria… shEqual, which launched last week, encourages advertisers and agencies to seriously consider the work we produce and how, collectively, we can move away from tired stereotypes and sexualised […]
Minister Asks ABC Chair To Explain Public Interest Of ‘Inside The Canberra Bubble’ Four Corners Episode
Thought the kerfuffle over Liberal MPs bonking their staff had gone away? The gasoline is only now hitting the match.
Popular With The Brits But A Flop With Locals, Foster’s Vies For Australian Comeback
Australia's most hated beer, Foster's, set for a comeback. Well, apart from XXXX Summer and Heineken Zero that is.
Seven Seeks Internal Emails As Contract Spat With Cricket Australia Escalates
The only winners of these contractual spats are only ever the lawyers. And possibly the lawyers' local BMW dealership.
Subaru Celebrates The Road Less Travelled In New Creative Campaign
Subaru urges Aussies to take a road trip in new campaign. Although car sickness & haemorrhoids sufferers are exempt.
MG Motor Australia Calls On Country To Take A Test Drive To Make A Difference This December
The British marque's now Chinese owned & made. Although probably doesn't want that mentioned given the current climate.
First Day Of Summer Coined ‘Zooper Dooper Day’
Take any Zooper Dooper to zooper new levels by blending one with two shots of vodka, two shots of tequila.
Twitter Says It Won’t Ban Viral Chinese Tweet Of Photoshopped Australian Soldier
As Australia-China relations worsen, Xi Jinping announces pavlova now off the menu at the Great Hall Of The People.
Sudanese-Australian Model Kisses Wife In Anti-Homophobia Stance In Powerful Elle Cover
Lots of people like to say that print is dead. But as you'll read here, a little arthritis aside, it's alive & kicking.
CommBank’s Dollarmites To Be Axed From Victorian Schools
In bad news for seven-year-old TikTok and YouTube millionaires, CommBank’s Dollarmites set to be scrapped.
Daily Telegraph Takes Down Hugh Marks Article Following Legal Threat
Tele backs down in legal stoush with Hugh Marks. Miranda Devine heard to comment: "Thank f@ck I didn't write it."
IKEA Says 50% Of Meals On Restaurant Menus Will Be Vegan By 2025
IKEA warning of a sharp increase in customer flatulence as in-store restaurants go plant-based.
Adgile Doubles-Down On Australia Growth With Team Expansion
Following on from the appointment of Paul Evans as its first Global CEO, Adgile Media has set about expanding and developing its talent base, in order to support and drive growth within the Australian market. Stu Carr joins as Adgile’s new Director of Customer Insights, where he will support clients with their data and analytics […]
WARC Study: COVID Slashes Global Ad Spends By 10.2%, Recovery To Take Two Years
It's yet ANOTHER study showing the impact of COVID on ad spends. Scream "we know, we know" as you digest the facts here.
“It’s A Hoff-Alanche!” David Hasselhoff Plays Nine Roles In Totally Bonkers Ad For Internet TV Service
With the US scratching about for a decent president, any David Hasselhoff ad suggests the answer's closer than we think.
Amaysim Builds On Success Of Little Sim, Big Love Rebrand With Love Machine Music Video Via 72andSunny Sydney
Amaysim has debuted the official music video for the song at the centre of their new campaign, Love Machine, performed by former Gang of Youths lead guitarist, Joji Malani. The music video, produced by creative agency, 72andSunny, builds on the success of amaysim’s recently launched Little Sim, Big Love brand platform and tells a tongue in cheek […]
Val Morgan Digital & Fandom Team Up With Adidas For New Campaign Featuring Esports Star
Partners of Val Morgan Digital, Fandom, the largest entertainment fan site in the world, have this month teamed up with mega brand, adidas to build hype around the release of their new X9000 range. The multi-faceted campaign included a mix of written & video content that tapped into the core pillars of style, tech, and […]
Lucky Cat Takes Nut-Fuelled Voyage Of Self-Discovery In Lucky Nuts Campaign Via Saatchi & Saatchi
Nuts are such a healthy, on-the-go snack, aren't they? B&T often enjoys the salted variety with six schooners.
Akcelo Expands Data Strategy And Martech Capabilities With Appointment Of Senior Marketer Anne Ngo
Brand experience and innovation company Akcelo has today announced the latest senior addition to its growing team, appointing highly experienced marketer Anne Ngo as martech and customer strategy director to lead and grow the practice. Ngo will help Akcelo clients grow their customer marketing and martech maturity by leveraging her deep understanding of the challenges […]
Lifting The Lid On Data: Are Data Labels The Answer?
Many are calling data the chief tenant of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Drunk people seem rather fond of saying it.
7-Eleven Partners With Adobe And Microsoft To Accelerate Digital Strategy
7-Eleven has entered strategic partnerships with Adobe and Microsoft in what is set to accelerate the company’s ambitious digital strategy. With transformation works well underway, 7-Eleven’s digital plans signal a significant step forward for Australia’s leading convenience retailer. 7-Eleven General Manager of Strategy and Technology Stephen Eyears (pictured) said the company sought to deliver more agile innovation in order to meet customer needs across […]
AKQA Supports Startup Gippsland & Creates Meaningful Link With Regional Entrepreneurs
Here's a nice story on brands doing good. And that's despite B&T's editorial preference for evil and schadenfreude.
Toyota, McDonalds, Harvey Norman & More Return As Fox Cricket Partners
Thankfully, sandpaper companies noticeably absent as Foxtel unveils string of cricket sponsors.
Why Search Should Be The Icing On The Cake To Your TV Spend
This adland guru argues TV spend without the SEO is like the one-night stand without the regrettable embarrassment.
