Paddy Power decides against running Rolf Harris Ashes ad – but it leaks anyway
Edgy bookmaker’s Paddy Power's latest shock ad push has been dubbed too controversial to publicise with a spokesman from the firm noting it “had the potential to cause offence”.
Despite deciding to "destroy" the ad which was supposed to feature during the Ashes, images of the lorry leaked online and as a result were picked up by a number of media organisations.
PR Stunt of the Day: Paddy Power "The Only Aussie We Don't Want To Get Out" #Ashes #Ashes2015 #RolfHarris pic.twitter.com/dhCKdQZ0hg
— Andrew Bloch (@AndrewBloch) July 16, 2015
A Paddy Power spokesman told The Drum: “A lone tweet of an unauthorised photo of a mobile Paddy Power billboard has been doing the rounds on Twitter today [despite us] deciding not to run it.
“Although potentially amusing for the cricket fan, the sentiment of the advert crossed the line and had the potential to cause offence.
“It’s not often Paddy Power make this kind of decision but in this instance we believe we made the right call not to run it.”
The bookmaker was last under scrutiny for encouraging immigrants who are talented at sports to jump aboard a lorry with an ad featuring Andy Murray, Mo Farah and Raheem Sterling.