Bloomingdale’s apologises for date rape joke ad which caused mass outrage
Bloomingdale’s has apologised for an ad in its recent holiday catalog which sparked outrage after it appeared to make light of date rape.
The ad reads “Spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking,” and shows a smartly dressed man looking at a woman, who is laughing and appears not to notice him.
Hundreds of angry tweets soon followed with people castigating the department store for the ads implications.
#Bloomingdales encourages you to date rape your friend for the holidays pic.twitter.com/o1Rz4JVMgO
— Natalie Bee (@ghostinmarble) November 11, 2015
In case it needs saying, DO NOT SPIKE YOUR BEST FRIEND'S EGGNOG. OR ANYONE'S EGGNOG. OR ANYONE'S DRINKS. EVER. #Bloomingdales — Jack Monroe (@DrJackMonroe) November 11, 2015In what universe do the ad "creatives" for this #Bloomingdales ad live in? pic.twitter.com/ojfC44U8gO
— Jonny Geller (@JonnyGeller) November 11, 2015
Many questioned how the ad was ever published and berated the editorial decision.
Fascinated that throughout the editing process, nobody suggested this Christmas ad is a bad idea #Bloomingdales pic.twitter.com/zUaNJnlK7y — Lara DiamondPhillips (@Laradp) November 11, 2015The Macy’s owned company took to Twitter to issue an apology acknowledging that the ad was “inappropriate and in poor taste”.
We heard your feedback about our catalog copy, which was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdale's sincerely apologizes.
— Bloomingdale's (@Bloomingdales) November 10, 2015