Following Krispy Kreme’s gaffe in labelling their children’s half-term activity club ‘KKK Wednesdays’, it felt like the perfect time to visit some previous brand fails.
Krispy Kreme’s Cooks up Recipe for Disaster as UK ‘KKK’ Promotion Solicits Backlash http://t.co/oB9ooC9Uh1 http://t.co/OnpgCQswH3
— IG::TheRealStevieBee (@darealsteviebee) February 18, 2015
Subway went all prehistoric man on us with their YouTube advert – which was pulled very quickly after launch – in which they seemed to suggest that a healthy footlong would have direct results in a female’s sexiness level at Halloween.
What was wrong with Ronald McDonald? Nothing. However, the powers that be at McDonald’s clearly felt the need to freshen things up and introduced the new mascot ‘Happy’.
Say hello to our newest friend, Happy! http://t.co/CuR3hU8Chj #HappyMeal pic.twitter.com/xgluLaHfcY
— McDonald's (@McDonalds) May 19, 2014
Twitter responded in expected fashion with the below tweet taking the crown as the winner:
I saw the new Happy Meal mascot and then I made this. pic.twitter.com/jeNBENA0c5
— Brian F’n Patterson! (@d20monkey) May 20, 2014
Nothing wrong with celebrating being the first NFL team to reach one-million followers. There is a problem, however, when your one-millionth follower contains the ‘N’ word.
.@Patriots apologizing after tweet about one-millionth follower featured a racist username: http://t.co/qwzJWxSITk pic.twitter.com/yBBLxBh9Ut
— FOX 47 News (@FOX47News) November 17, 2014
What have we learnt here? Never stray from Times New Roman.
Wow Pepsi, really?! #FontFail http://t.co/HKaVbSgyRK pic.twitter.com/W2iSK3KUNB
— Nicholas Guyan (@Nick_Guyan) September 24, 2013
Despite the fact racial caricatures should never be part of a brand’s strategy. Despite the fact it was an awful joke. Dave and Buster’s don’t even sell tacos. Bizarre.
Not one to miss an advertising opportunity, K Mart decided to make the most of the horrendous shootings that took place at Newtown school in America.
Adding a branded hashtag to a #CTshooting tweet? Not cool, @Kmart. http://t.co/7hqarbK2
— russ martin ™ (@russless) December 14, 2012
