Red Bull's Titanic advert prompts complaints to the ASA
Red Bull’s latest advertising campaign, implying that those killed on the ill-fated maiden voyage of the Titanic could have survived had it carried the energy drink, has prompted complaints to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
The animated advert, originally released in Germany at the beginning of this year, has been adapted for a UK audience and prompted around 50 complaints to the ASA for implying that those who died might have survived, citing its claim that Red Bull ’gives you wings’.
The advert features the Captain of the ship ordering a dock yard worker to stop loading a create of Red Bull and replace it with champagne.
On hearing the slogan, the Captain asks “Why on earth would you need wings on a ships?” before the name of the ship is revealed behind the Red Bull crate as he walks away laughing.
The ASA has confirmed that it has received complaints on the campaign for making a joke about the tragedy that cost around 1,500 people their lives, although no investigation has yet begun.