McDonald's Ad Pulled for (Not Really) Making Fun of Far Rockaway
Here's your latest blown-out-of-proportion ad controversy. McDonald's has pulled a subway ad in New York City because it allegedly hurt Far Rockaway's feelings. That distant Queens neighborhood—one end of the line for the A train—was called out in the ad's headline, which read: "To not falling asleep and ending up in Far Rockaway. (Unless, of course, you live there.)" That tacked-on disclaimer wasn't enough for too-much-time-on-his-hands City Councilman James Sanders. "I can assure the marketing boys over at McDonald's that most people don't wind up in the Rockaways by accident," Sanders said in a statement—yes, a statement. "They come for the beauty, serenity and entertainment that our peninsula offers, especially in the hot summer months when our beaches are overrun with visitors from Manhattan who flock to our shores." Sanders added that he was banning Ronald McDonald from the peninsula unless he decides to ride the A train and stop off in Far Rockaway. Only one thing left to do: Sanders should now hire 11-year-old Mollie Kerr as his chief of staff.
- Yankees, Manchester City Team Up for MLS Launch
- ESPN's Cherie Cohen Headed to NBCUniversal to Focus on Cable
- Pinterest Plays Coy on Ads, but Expect Commerce to Lead
- Digital Dignitaries Debate Display's Death
- Mayer Talks Tumblr Plans, Unveils New Flickr
- Spotify Launches Music Charts
- NBC Makes Bet on Fake Reality
- Cramer-Krasselt Beats the Odds to Keep Porsche
- Nutella Thanks Its Biggest Fan, Founder of World Nutella Day, by Sending Her a Cease-and-Desist
- Ad of the Day: Nike
- The New York Times Reinvents the Boring Banner Ad
- Advertising Student Ships His Pants to Kmart's Agency, Lands Internship
- Introducing Beardvertising: Tiny Billboards That Clip on to Your Beard
- Jann Wenner Discusses Putting His Son in Charge
- Our Picks for the 5 Best and 5 Worst New TV Shows
- ESPN Lays Off More Than 100 Employees
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







