Y&R Sydney has been accused of pinching a British agency’s idea after its current work for food delivery service Menulog featuring American actor Jeff Goldblum bore remarkable similarities to a 2015 campaign for British electronics chain Currys PC World that also featured the American actor.
In Y&R’s Menulog campaign, Goldblum wanders into a living room full of strangers and instructs them on how to order food via the Menulog app. Check the ad out below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihQhqTJ6DJ8
However, many have noted the Y&R ad bears a remarkable similarity to Goldblum’s Christmas campaign for Currys from two years ago. Check it out below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2AQHNGxIyJE
The Currys ads were the work of London agency Abbott Mead Vickers BBDO who say the Menulog ad “imitates” its own creative in which Goldblum shows people how to act when receiving unwanted Christmas presents.
Ian Pearman, chief executive of AMV BBDO, said: “Well I guess imitation is the sincerest form of flattery but if Menulog like this kind of work, perhaps they’d like to get it fresh from us rather than second-hand from their current agency.” Pearman’s comments reported on the British industry site Campainive.co.uk.
However, Y&R has responded saying the similarities between the two campaigns are purely coincidental. A spokesperson for the agency saying its ads were written to suit Goldblum’s personality and style and were similar to many campaigns he’d starred in globally.
