The New York Times ran an interesting piece about TV commercials that involve suicide, a theme that is cropping up with some frequency. Washington Mutual recently pulled an ad that showed bankers standing at the top of a building as if about to jump, and General Motors Corporation (NYSE:GM) and Volkswagen AG (FRA:VOW) also are discontinuing ads dealing with suicide.
I hardly consider myself a prude, but I just don't understand how any advertising executive could think it's okay to talk about something like suicide in a commercial, even if it is in the name of comedy. And the theme of suicide is not the only trend emerging in ads that some find disturbing. An ad for a candy bar was pulled after complaints from gay rights groups that it perpetuated stereotypes.
My message to the ad execs: we don't need advertisers pushing the envelope as far as taste. Advertising that is offensive has no place on television, especially when it can run during any show and be seen by anyone of any age.
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