Toyota’s PR disaster has gone international with US and British media turning their attention to the controversial “Clean Getaways” winner of its Yaris film making competition.
The influential Huffington Post has published a story about the pulling of the ad from the Saatchi & Saatchi-moderated Clever Film Comp site. It has already generated hundreds of responses from its mainly American audience over its ‘sexist’ content.
As Mumbrella reported last night, there has also been coverage from the British media including the Times and Telegraph.
Mumbrella first revealed the growing online backlash on social media networks including Facebook on Sunday afternoon, before mainstream Australian press followed up yesterday.
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The ad – directed by Frazer Bailey and written by Micha McDonald – was created in a contest to make a short film featuring a Yaris and was selected as the winner by a jury including Toyota and advertising agency representatives.
Toyota spokesman Mike Breen later apologised for any offence caused, although the brand has so far been unable to say whether the advertisement remains as the winner of its contest.