After years of being manipulated by their cloying ads presented as real social experiments, many women have finally had enough of Dove's mawkish #TrueBeauty push. Which is why this spot-on parody of the campaign couldn't be more timely.
So, I was just bopping through my typical morning routine today, hate-reading the Daily Mail and watching Corey Feldman interviews on YouTube (yikes, don't hold back, Wendy Williams!), when an auto-play pop-up ad overwhelmed my screen. It was a commercial for milk—part of their new campaign, "Milk Life"—encouraging…
When I see a man drinking bourbon, I expect him to be the sort of man who likes to drink bourbon. I guess I could project some kind of cartoonishly rugged masculinity onto him — like the ability to build a bookshelf from scratch without math and picture myself watching adoringly/helplessly while he does so. But since…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--3SBDBkm8--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/vecoi0nqykeuydm0r07b.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ZeZ3rzgV--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/vecoi0nqykeuydm0r07b.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--9OsArFBa--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/vecoi0nqykeuydm0r07b.jpg, (large)])
The governor of New York is pushing to have "racy" ads for breast enhancements removed from the city's subway system.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--SDqguOgI--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/wtmqg2h5xoxunalsmmdd.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--DLcoZmvM--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/wtmqg2h5xoxunalsmmdd.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--E4oQqcQf--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/wtmqg2h5xoxunalsmmdd.jpg, (large)])
A day after their commercials suggesting that women who don't wax turn into men overnight aired, Veet has quietly pulled the ads from YouTube, apologizing to anyone who was offended but arguing that the ads have been mostly "well received."
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--AqOhk4kM--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/yehgapphwkgzlgnnb0s3.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--H8eysDjH--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/yehgapphwkgzlgnnb0s3.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--VrunhKM3--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/yehgapphwkgzlgnnb0s3.jpg, (large)])
Dove has moved their marketing strategy away from merely using "Real Women" as models and towards manipulating "Real Women" as part of totally unscientific experiments that prove nothing. The latest iteration of this project is Dove Patches, a patch for your arm full of a magic substance that makes you feel more beautiful.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--TRSK8Ee2--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/yfr3fxeo0wjzlclhtka4.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--7_JkhquR--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/yfr3fxeo0wjzlclhtka4.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--eqjYa1fS--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/yfr3fxeo0wjzlclhtka4.jpg, (large)])
There are plenty of ads out there that are so offensive they've prompted consumers to loudly declare they will never again buy from the company shilling said product. But we hear of far fewer that have actually gotten people to take out their wallets and start buying.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--2aC9sNSQ--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/icyu6yuyxrm42miyrbvv.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--y7cd82JO--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/icyu6yuyxrm42miyrbvv.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--If-RUpxd--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/icyu6yuyxrm42miyrbvv.jpg, (large)])
While plenty of hair removal campaigns for women are subtly trying to indicate that the only way you're attractive is without body hair, Veet's new campaign "Don't risk dudeness!" goes one step further and suggests that without their wax strips, you risk turning into a man.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--1Jtp_yFP--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/ufdxnuskaetrawijdwnm.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--PE-A2PBo--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/ufdxnuskaetrawijdwnm.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--_vs8lNdI--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/ufdxnuskaetrawijdwnm.jpg, (large)])
Ladies! Stop clicking on all that crap on Bluefly! Did you know that know that if you took five seconds to stop ogling shoes and purses you could just as easily be clicking around and learning stuff? Of course you didn't! You're just a lady, silly.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--o6IwQ5ka--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/o8bjdkb8tljifc7dlgfq.png, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--YBeEBcuV--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/o8bjdkb8tljifc7dlgfq.png, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vi7uR4dO--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/o8bjdkb8tljifc7dlgfq.png, (large)])
One of them, unsurprisingly, is via Carl's Jr.—the Western X-tra Bacon Thickburger. The point is shoved home via a fake Mystique morphing into a beefy dude before she takes a bite.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--zhKkqtI_--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/jveuwrszgxzcfuuplaoe.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--chD0IQ9_--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/jveuwrszgxzcfuuplaoe.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--IpfBND3a--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/jveuwrszgxzcfuuplaoe.jpg, (large)])
For their latest commercial, Snickers had Australian construction workers catcall female passersby with empowering statements, rather than the boilerplate street harassment ones. The conceit is when these dudes are "not themselves," i.e. hungry for a Snickers, they're...better people?
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--VLgraZzF--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/rpxsg0h1ibglh4zpn61a.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--1nYA5aiI--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/rpxsg0h1ibglh4zpn61a.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vNRNuscR--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/rpxsg0h1ibglh4zpn61a.jpg, (large)])
Here's an unconventional pitch from a wannabe member of the American government, aspiring Iowa senator Joni Ernst: "I grew up castrating hogs on an Iowa farm, so when I get to Washington, I'll know how to cut pork." Yes, ma'am!
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--vFUlktBe--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/b2sz32tdsphgj6jlh4r7.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--mqhMdPFG--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/b2sz32tdsphgj6jlh4r7.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--cv4t0kwk--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/b2sz32tdsphgj6jlh4r7.jpg, (large)])
What do you do if you're the Republican party and you're constantly criticized for being full of old white dudes? You make a commercial with an Asian woman, some black people and a young white dude in it.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--YZNFJ8hI--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/cpdhljdd1sibfll9b6av.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dxnbxIjT--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/cpdhljdd1sibfll9b6av.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--1njxcmQa--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/cpdhljdd1sibfll9b6av.jpg, (large)])
A reader spotted this flyer for a sex tracking app from Nipple.io at SXSW this weekend.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--UsY8dh8R--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/lckyqxhkvzczj45lxl2c.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--VunaoBTa--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/lckyqxhkvzczj45lxl2c.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--HHTUvsd2--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/lckyqxhkvzczj45lxl2c.jpg, (large)])
American Apparel shows off yet another nearly naked woman, this time in the name of fair labor practices. Because boobs and decent pay for a day's work are completely corollary. (Excuse me while I check my breasts and look for a paycheck to fall from the sky.) The company's newest ad features an actual employee named…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--lIp6bpOj--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/lqeynhlv75buuctour6q.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4x2bUZkZ--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/lqeynhlv75buuctour6q.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4YnnnHmt--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/lqeynhlv75buuctour6q.jpg, (large)])
Car manufacturers spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to sell cars to millennials. Apparently they're still very confused, because Chevy just released an ad that's basically a minute-long reminder that one day, your brand new puppy will die.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--ZIHGtE1i--/c_fill,g_north,h_358,w_636/nl56begtixyzb23xkydl.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--W33Bx8Cx--/c_fill,g_north,h_180,w_320/nl56begtixyzb23xkydl.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--BaSdROgj--/c_fill,fl_progressive,g_north,h_77,q_80,w_137/nl56begtixyzb23xkydl.jpg, (large)])
Are you experiencing Award Season Withdrawal? (It's a real thing; I don't care what my stupid doctor says.) Jonesing for another round of guessing who is or isn't going to be a big winner, but sick of seeing all those gosh darned movie stars showing off all their fancy attire? Then do we have something for you—the 2014 …
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--TPqJSqrF--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/620321974388117061.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--fFIUNn9K--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/620321974388117061.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--hcbDqiJM--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/620321974388117061.jpg, (large)])
Apparently, Diet Coke's new ad campaign: "You're on!" is drawing fire for being a terribly irresponsible and naughty DRUG REFERENCE FOR DRUGGIES. Sometimes the billboards say, "Diet Coke. You're on." And sometimes they say, "You're on. Diet Coke." But either way, they're clearly talking about your brain being on something…
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--MbPfmExe--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/19he6xsyz6yaojpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--0R1p-3Kb--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/19he6xsyz6yaojpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--73MdE4Z2--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/19he6xsyz6yaojpg.jpg, (large)])
Microsoft spends a lot of time attempting to zing Apple. Their latest try is pitched to the ladies and focuses on the fact Mac laptops don't have touch screens. A pretty simple concept! But just in case, the company decided to explain it in terms of wedding planning. Because ladies love weddings.
], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--dTMwR7Gq--/c_fill,g_center,h_358,w_636/19h385tapbngcjpg.jpg, (small)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--4-Gei7IX--/c_fill,g_center,h_180,w_320/19h385tapbngcjpg.jpg, (medium)], [http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/s--c5a-Nv-C--/c_fill,g_center,h_77,w_137/19h385tapbngcjpg.jpg, (large)])
Sometimes advertising agencies get creative and it’s great. Other times, the sentiment might be there but the message makes you say, "Wait, what?" Enter Dove’s new deodorant campaign in the Garden State.
