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Pepsi uses suicide to sell soda pop

By on December 16, 2008 in creativity, responsible or not?, socially responsible

One is the loneliest number, and since Pepsi Max only has one calorie, maybe that little calorie should just take its own life, right?

The following three ads were created by BBDO in Düsseldorf, Germany:

Pepsi Max - One little calorie hangs and shoots himself
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Pepsi Max - One little calorie slits wrists, blows himself up
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Pepsi Max - One little calorie commits self immolation
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Breaking through requires creative bravery. But did Pepsi take it too far by having a cartoon character slit its wrists, shoot itself, hang itself and commit self immolation?

Do you consider this Responsible Marketing?

Comment below to share your thoughts.

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Via Pepsi Opens a Vein of Controversy With New Suicide-Themed Ads in Ad Age.

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  • http://canadianuniversitymarketing.blogspot.com Morgan Coudray

    Didnt they forget to use Pepsi’s new logo.
    Why would they personalize something they want to get rid of? And the tone is definitly not something Coke’s advertisers would go for.
    However from a purely creative perspective is good…

  • http://www.southministersmusings.blogspot.com Marci

    That is truly appalling. It must be a sick joke, right? They wouldn’t actually use those ads? It is about enough to swear me off Pepsi products for good.

  • http://www.pinstripeinc.com Marsha Bradley

    Having lost a couple of friends to suicide, I find this very disturbing. Creative, yes. But stroking a negative memory is never a way to appeal to one’s customers and consumers.

  • http://www.truecallings.net Lissa Boles

    Creative? Yes. This might even be considered art…

    But responsible marketing? Not even a little.

  • Heather

    I agree with Marsha — these ads make me feel sad and repulsed, not in need of a refreshing beverage. I’ll stick to Coke from now on.

  • moon

    Wow…. if the point of an ad is to sell a product, they have completely lost me on this one. The last thing I want to do is try the product after looking at that…. I’m a Pepsi drinker, and this ad makes me want to think twice about a brand I am loyal to….

  • Melissa B.

    That is appalling and not responsible at all. Did these concepts run anywhere or did this creative leak? The article you linked to doesn’t specify either…

  • http://www.freewebs.com/sarahchristinebolton Sarah B.

    These ads succeed in doing one thing: turning me off from Pepsi Max.

    I think they took this one way too far. Creative, yes. Tactful and effective, no.

  • Average Joe

    These aren’t even real so who cares?

  • http://www.outsourcemarketing.com Patrick Byers

    Actually, these ads were real.

  • http://yahoo.com Cherise

    The character is awesome, but the whole suicide thing is really not cool

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