Calvin Klein's "Banned" Orgy Ad Is Part of Predictable Fake Controversy Trend
Calvin Klein has deliberately produced a steamy commercial that it knew had no chance of being aired on TV. (See video below.)
The ploy is an increasingly common one among advertisers who realize they can find larger audiences online than they can on TV.
The ad features six models, barely dressed in CK jeans, writhing on a sofa and feigning sex. The footage seems to be take from a hidden camera.
Because of the nudity, CK management must have known no channel would air the ad. TV spot standards and practices are well-known to major advertisers. With the assured "controversy" in hand, the company has released the video on YouTube, where the attention of bloggers (*sigh*, I know ...) will assure it has a longer life and a larger audience.
Other advertisers who have recently made overt attempts to get their ads banned -- and garner the attendant free publicity -- include:
- PETA's "banned" Super Bowl commercial features mostly naked models doing suggestive things with vegetables.
- GoDaddy traditionally runs a "tame" version of its sexy ad on the Super Bowl and carries an "uncut" version on its web site.
- Los Angeles-based ad shop Cesario Migliozzi attempted to buy a Super Bowl ad and then auction off the ad in seconds-long chunks to other advertisers.
- Apparel maker Weatherproof was "banned" from buying a 2-second ad on the Super Bowl.