Air New Zealand cougar contest is grounded
You may remember Air New Zealand from when they slathered their flight staff with body paint last year. Now, their latest campaign is right on target with the apparent overall brand message: that your flight will have a happy ending. The mating habits of the New Zealand cougar are thoroughly explored in the long mockumentary posted below. Neither the notion of flying nor the details of the GrabASeat contest (ostensibly being promoted here) is mentioned in the 2:33 spot. If you're curious, the contest encourages women over 35 to send in pics with their "cougar mates" (who must be at least 10 years younger) to win a trip to a rugby tournament. The spot has sparked outrage from rape prevention groups and women's rights activists in New Zealand. Of course, that didn't stop 60 women from entering before Air New Zealand swiftly closed the contest. I'll admit, there's a lot to be offended by here. For example, my husband wanted to know, "What the hell is wrong with liking Enya?"
—Posted by Rebecca Cullers
- Mozilla Moves Ahead With Do Not Track Browser
- Twitter Snags Local Social Discovery Firm Spindle
- Brands Can Use Images in Facebook Comments, Too
- James Gandolfini is Dead at 51
- Elle's Robbie Myers on Women's Magazines and Serious Journalism
- 'Dumb Ways to Die' Train Keeps Rolling, as It Wins Grand Prix in Radio
- Baseball Legend Vin Scully Pinch Hits on Twitter
- Bud Light Moves to BBDO
- Maxipad Brand Goes for Blood in Brilliant Reply to Facebook Rant
- Annie Leibovitz Revisits Her Famous Photo of John Lennon and Yoko Ono
- Draftfcb and Pereira & O'Dell Each Win a Grand Prix in Cyber Category
- TBWA\Media Arts Lab Earns Press Grand Prix for Apple's iPad Mini Ads
- Conan O'Brien to Advertisers: You Disgust Me, but I Will Take Your Money
- Kraft Salad Dressing Ad Gets Best Present Ever: A Slap From One Million Moms
- 'Dumb Ways to Die' Train Keeps Rolling, as It Wins Grand Prix in Radio
- Apple Finds Its Footing Again With Evocative Film About Third-Party iOS Apps
AdFreak is your daily blog of the best and worst of creativity in advertising, media, marketing and design. Follow us as we celebrate (and skewer) the latest, greatest, quirkiest and freakiest commercials, promos, trailers, posters, billboards, logos and package designs around. Edited by Adweek's Tim Nudd. Updated every weekday, with a weekly recap on Saturdays.


Email
Print







