This Year's Real Star of the Superbowl: The Wall
Martin Lindstrom
#1 Branding & Culture Expert, New York Times Bestselling Author. TIME Magazine 100 most influential people in the world, Top 50 Business Thinker in the World 2015-2024 (Thinkers50). Financial Times & NEWSWEEK columnist.
Most ad executives and companies see politics in commercials as a dangerous territory to enter but, with a recent immigration ban and a wall heading towards a reality, two equally hot and very controversial topics have fired up the political landscape: the U.S. and the Superbowl.
There’s nothing better than a ban, something that 84 Lumber, one of the largest building construction companies in the U.S., just recently found out, with their new Superbowl TV commercial.
It was initially banned by FOX as being too political. Why? It contained a wall and migrants from Mexico.
Do I need to say more?
84 Lumber is not alone in pursuing the controversial path. Budweiser, in their up-coming TV commercial, showcased the journey of immigrants from where there is no wall, but is home to that most important element of any Superbowl party, beer.
As the German immigrant departs his ship at the port, he's met with cries of “You’re not wanted here,” and “Go back home.”
Do I need to say more?
The list of commercials that will contain indirect (and direct) political messages this Sunday is long, proving the point of a recent post I wrote– brands are finally going controversial.
The fact is that the time where we can be friends with everyone is up.
“Politically correct brands are F*****!" Do I need to say more?
This year's Superbowl is a good indication that the world is changing – not just in Trump land, but in AdLand too.
Brand Manager | Creative Director | Consultant
8 年Let's shrink this down. If you woke up one morning to a large group of transients sleeping in your yard, using your utilities and bathroom, and helping themselves to your things as they wandered around your house, would there be an elephant in the room or a clear issue ? You lock your doors and car at night for a reason.
Product Strategy & Operations GTM at Google
8 年From what I heard on news, 84 Lumber commercial is cut and the owner of the company is actually a trump supporter so not sure this is intentional
Proyectos públicos, licitaciones y subvenciones
8 年Interesting post!!
Versatile marketing leader, project problem-solver and driver of strategy. Pleasant Hill Vice Mayor
8 年?Some will condemn it, others will applaud it, but 84 Lumber showed tremendous conviction in showing a corporate conscience
Head of Reception Unit
8 年never was so close marketing and politic yeat!