CommBank bomb hoax video removed
CommBank backpack ad now private
CommBank has hidden a controversial ad from its YouTube channel which features its mascots making a hoax bomb claim at the London Olympics.
The video was posted last night.
As Mumbrella reported earlier today, it featured the bank’s characters “C”, “A” and “N” giving a security guard outside the volleyball a tip-off that the man dressed as the letter “T” is carrying a suspicious backpack which is ticking.
The guard wrestles for the suspicious backpack
London’s 7/7 bombings in 2005 saw four suicide bombers explode backpacks on public transport, killing more than 50 people. They took place the day after London was announced as host of the 2012 Olympics.
CommBank has so far not responded to Mumbrella’s invitations to comment, but the video is no longer live on the CommBank YouTube channel.
The backpack ad:
CommBank’s “Can” campaign was created by M&C Saatchi.
Tim Burrowes founded Mumbrella in 2008. He worked on Mumbrella until 2021. At various points he was editor, content director and editor-at-large.
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Probably the most retarded aspect of the campaign to date.
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Unbelievably bad taste and a crock of shit from a creative perspective aswell
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trying to distract us after magnussen bombed……nice job on that front guys
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They can’t be serious? Who the heck signed off on that? Bad bad bad.
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What on earth…..Anyone associated with this disrespectful campaign really should take a look in the mirror and ask themselves…are they, and their career in for the long haul? Shameful and not very bright.
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I agree that this is very bad indeed indeed. I would certainly not sign it off.
So is spruiking fried chicken to the masses though isn’t it? One of our biggest killers is junk food and yet ad agencies happily promote it’s awfulness.
I watched an ad today for a steak, bacon, cheese sub thing at Subway (a very fatty / heart attack causing sub). I thought Subway was supposed to be the dieters option? And they sell soda?
Society is fcked and a hell of a lot of people working in adland quite simply couldn’t give a stuff about doing good for society and must be blind to the devastation they course.
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Indeed, indeed, indeed.
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Dazed and Confused, what on earth does that have to do with this ad? Anyone who thinks joking about terrorism will help sell a bank must be pretty sure of themselves. Idiotic. And just proves that people in adland haven’t got a clue.
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Gruen just got content for next weeks show.
The agency should also be removed, as well as the people approving this dross.
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Understandable that the News rags wouldn’t be carrying this story, but there’s no sign of it in the SMH either.
Do you think that the front page banner ad for CommBank would have anything to do with Fairfax editors withholding news about a major banking institution doing online comedy ads lampooning the terrorist threat at the games in London?
Hard to believe.
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I am gobsmacked that an agency would even pitch this idea, let alone a client approve it! Someone must have used the old faithful line “there’s no such thing as bad publicity” in that meeting.
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this is what happens when you give a bunch of guys with no experience in this sort of stuff a budget
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Appallingly bad taste – the ‘creatives’ need to get a bit of real world perspective.
No senior marketer should have signed off on this and
where was the market-research testing on this? the average-joe in the street would tell you this is off the mark.
Is the same agency now doing their online reputation management as well?
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I was calling this campaign rubbish days ago, and I see it’s just getting worse and worse.
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@Jenni Beattie – While I agree it was a total stuff up, your comment about market-research is just as far off the mark.
To be nimble and responsive with short turn around web content, the whole point is you _don’t_ do market research. That’s what makes it cost effective.
This piece definitely shouldn’t have seen the light of day though – anyone who’s not a complete dunce would understand that.
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Agree the piece should not have seen the light of day but to suggest that
because web based communications/social media needs to be nimble it does not
deserve any rigour is unfounded.
Agree market research (the old style) such as focus testing that takes months doesn’t cut it anymore but MROCs (market research online customer communities) are affordable, fast and for a large brand can be part of the vetting process.
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Dazed and confused … soda? Who in Australia calls soft-drinks soda? Where you from buddy?
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It was awkward just watching the YouTube clip…
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