Awhile ago, we speculated that Juan Cabral and Fallon UK might have been inspired by The Mighty Boosh when creating that drumming Cadbury gorilla. No big deal. We forgot all about it. Recently, other folks have been saying he was way more than inspired from a commercial on YouTube (see the video above).
Scamp broke the story: “Jury gossip reveals he originally presented the idea in the form of a YouTube clip. Not only that, but he had previously presented it to Cinzano (in Argentina), who didn’t bite.”
First off – so, he sees this thing on YouTube and pitches it to one client who doesn’t love it. He then recycles it and serves it up to Cadbury. And what? Everyone recycles.
Secondly, advertising is a very tricky business. Inspiration is a wonderful thing, but when does it become out and out theft? Fallon UK could of avoided this whole messy thing by contacting the original creative on the commercial, which was for a brand called West49, and hiring him as an assistant on the shoot. Small pay out and everyone (Juan/Fallon/Cadbury) comes out smelling like roses. They didn’t do that. Yet, if we went on a witch hunt to find “inspired” broadcast spots, half of the business would be burned at the stake.
We can’t believe this, but we’re going to quote Lil’ Kim on this one, because Juan should be stealing her lines right now:
“All that bullshit you kick, playa hatin from the sideline/
Get your own shit, why you ridin mine?/”