Many advertising campaigns aspire to be vibrant and aggressive, to project a solid image, and to stay in the minds of potential consumers for as long as possible. However, that pursuit has pushed some ads beyond the bounds of what is politically correct, and they are banned in their local markets. Fortunately, the Web is there to rescue those spots and post a copy on YouTube. Want to see a few?
The market is a meat grinder. Competition is merciless. Countless brands fight for space in different media, not just TV, radio, and the Internet. Even a supermarket display reveals the struggle between companies, but advertising is an essential weapon in stealing customers from rivals. In the past, there were almost no rules, and even if content was particularly offensive to a competitor, it could stay on air without issue. Today, a mere handful of complaints is enough for the regulatory body to give the thumbs down. Of course, the Web works differently, and many banned ads found a home on services like YouTube. To be fair, some ads were never completely removed, and over time it becomes hard to tell whether they got the hammer or not, but there are cases where the reasons for the ban are... very obvious. That said, the usual warning: The sexual content is there, so we recommend watching in a private environment. NSFW!
1. Hyundai Veloster
2. Toohey's Beer
3. Slim Milk
4. Ihr Optiker
https://www.youtube.com/embed/kv9FmTU4vDY5. Companhia Athletica
6. Hansaplast
7. Créme D'or
8. Durex
9. Hyundai
10. Satis-Fashion
11. Pepsi
The battle between Coca-Cola and Pepsi has reached legendary proportions, and the internet often shares this ad as an example. I personally remember seeing it on screen, but such a direct attack can have consequences. We've seen dozens of campaigns where one brand mocks its rival, and the reaction was always the same: Double down.
12. Xbox
The original Xbox console marked Microsoft's entry into the console market, though it suffered a small stumble in the form of this ad. Life is Short, also known as Champagne, received hundreds of complaints in the UK. Microsoft defended its broadcast, but the Independent Television Commission (now part of the UK Office of Communications) ordered its removal.
13. Xbox 360
With the arrival of the Xbox 360, Microsoft sought to moderate its content a bit more, but Standoff didn't quite manage. However, this particular case basically reveals a process of self-censorship. Redmond made the "conscious decision" to limit its broadcast to company events and small audiences, completely ignoring traditional TV. No problem, because the video of the (alleged) casting is even better than the ad. Thanks for watching!
