Paddy Power provokes outrage with ‘prove you’re not prejudiced’ Chelsea campaign
Irreverent Irish bookmaker Paddy Power has provoked a row with its latest media stunt in which it set up a stall staffed with various minority stereotypes and invited Chelsea fans to ‘Prove you’re not prejudiced’ by posing for a picture outside Wembley stadium.
Following in the wake of a racism row when Chelsea supporters blocked a black man from boarding a Paris subway train the stunt was met with incredulity by some.
These included Jonny Gabriel who described it as Paddy Powers ‘worst publicity stunt’.
@paddypower This is pretty much the worst publicity stunt you've done yet, and you offered betting specials on the Oscar Pistorius case.
— (via @JonnyGabriel) (@JonnyGabriel) March 1, 2015
Another critic opined:
@paddypower @IronViewsStu Oh wow. incredibly poor taste. 'Lets get a black one, a brown one, a wheelchair one & one with those scarf things'
— Jim Mc (@jimspur72) March 1, 2015
Whilst yet another accused Paddy Power's PR team of scoring an own goal,
@DKDickson @DoronSalomon @paddypower Didn't think you could scrape anymore from that barrel.The PR men will do a lot of damage paddy.
— Nick foxall (@Reddevilfox) March 1, 2015