GoDaddy Pulls Puppy Super Bowl Ad Following Backlash
While the Super Bowl has been overshadowed by “deflate gate” ahead of 49th annual matchup, a new controversy has marred the attention surrounding the game.
GoDaddy.com debuted and swiftly yanked a new ad following immediate backlash on Twitter and from organizations like the SPCA. Offended viewers even launched a on petition on Change.org.
The spot, which debuted online ahead of the game, featured a puppy on a journey home after becoming separated from its human family. The commercial, titled “Journey Home,” appeared to be a heart-warming journey in similar vein to Budweiser’s popular ad, “Puppy Love,” which was to be followed with “Lost Dog” this weekend.
Still looking for your dog, @Budweiser? @GoDaddyBuddy can help by building you a website. #bestbuds
— GoDaddy (@GoDaddy) January 23, 2015However, in GoDaddy’s mockery, the puppy’s owner was relieved to find him home because it had already been sold on a new GoDaddy-hosted website.
Within 24 hours, the ad was yanked and the company’s CEO, Blake Irving, issued a statement on GoDaddy’s website. “The responses were emotional and direct,” he wrote. “Many people urged us not to run the ad … We are pulling the ad from the Super Bowl.”
And he also took to Twitter to respond to the SPCA.
Thank you @animalrescuers for the candid feedback. What should have been a fun and funny ad clearly missed the mark and we will not air it.
— Blake Irving (@Blakei) January 27, 2015Though, the company did promise to run an ad over the weekend. “You’ll still see us in the Big Game this year, and we hope it makes you laugh,” Irving said in the statement. Oh… joy.