Groupon Super Bowl advert draws controversy
An advert for online discount company Groupon that ran during the Super Bowl in the US has drawn controversy for apparently ‘making light’ of the plight of those in Tibet.
The advert features Oscar winning actor Timothy Hutton, who explains to the viewer; “The people of Tibet are in trouble, their very culture in jeopardy,” and then proceeds to inform viewers that despite this they Tibetans are still able to “whip up a great fish curry”, which is one of the savings that can be made through Groupon.
Already the advert, aired last night during the annual American Football event, is drawing criticism on social networking sites, claiming that it is not paying respect to an important subject.
Another advert featured Elizabeth Hurley appearing to front an appeal for the Brazilian rainforest, which turns out to be an advert for an offer on Brazilian waxing treatment and another from Cuba Gooing Jnr to save the Whales, which actually promotes 'an $86 whale watching cruise' through Groupon.
Groupon has moved to explain the advert: “When groups of people act together to do something, it’s usually to help a cause. With Groupon, people act together to help themselves by getting great deals. So what if we did a parody of a celebrity-narrated, PSA-style commercial that you think is about some noble cause (such as “Save the Whales”), but then it’s revealed to actually be a passionate call to action to help yourself (as in “Save the Money”)?”