A Turkish shampoo commercial has provoked (understandable) outrage after using Adolf Hitler as its spokesman.
The 13-second spot for Biomen shampoo uses archival footage of Hitler at a rally, dubbing in the Turkish voice-over, "If you are not wearing a woman's dress, you should not use her shampoo either."
This raises the question: Who on earth thought it would be a good idea to use Hitler in their ad campaign?
Well, it turns out that the answer is lots of people. Lots and lots of people.
According to advertising blogger Copyranter, apart from breasts, Hitler "may be the most over- and misused creative linchpin in advertising today." The Nazi architect of the Holocaust has sold everything from Vodka to deodorant. Even international branches of Saatchi & Saatchi and McCann have jumped into the fray.
Of course. Hitler loved Chinese food. How could we forget?
Client: Chopstix. "Can't hate everything."
Agency: Dentsu, Indonesia
What kind of stains are they talking about?
Client: Texsana Dry Cleaning
Auditioning for "Drive."
Client: Anti-drunk driving campaign
Ad agency: Advertisers Without Borders, Argentina
Just, no. Join AA.
Client: Amundsen
Ad Agency: O&M Ukraine
This travel company used a naked, gay Hitler as its poster boy.
Hitler in pink, wearing makeup.
Dreadlock Hitler.
Client: Open Magazine
Mullet Hitler.
Client: Football Resistance
Afro Hitler.
Hitler is often portrayed as the stereotypical bad guy.
Client: AIDS Prevention
Agency: Das Comitee, Germany
Bad egg.
Client: Nulaid Eggs
Ad Agency: The Jupiter Drawing Room, Johannesburg, South Africa
Naked Hitler for Comedy Central, Germany. Are we laughing yet? (Didn't think so).
Client: Comedy Central
An ad campaign of PETA proportions.
Client: NDAH
Because Hitler was hyper aware of his body odor.
Client: Rexona
Note: He wasn't on the cover of the Swimsuit Issue
Client: Sports Illustrated
Of course. A human rights film festival that embraces Hitler.
Apparently low-quality TVs turn Hitler into an angel.
Client: Onida LED TVs
Ad agency: McCann Worldgroup, Mumbai
This restaurant's tag line reads "Some things get better with time." Hitler isn't one of those things.
Client: A Bela Sintra, Sao Paulo, Brasil
Ad agency: Giovanni + DraftFcb, Sao Paulo
"The great masses of the people will more easily fall victims to a big lie than to a small one. What if he had had Internet? 2166 websites created each day. May 17th. World Internet Day." ... What?
Client: Netgate
Ad agency: Plutón, Montevideo, Uruguay
This was meant to improve the manners of passengers on subway cars. Because you don't want to bother Hitler if he's sitting across from you on the L. He has places to go.
Client: Tokyo subway system
Ad agency: Unknown
It's more than just the hat.
Client: Hut Weber
Ad Agency: Serviceplan Hamburg/ Munchen, Germany
Subtle pizza grease Hitler.
Client: Hell Pizza
Although the highlighted words do tell an inspiring story of Hitler's fall, the ad still makes you wonder: Why use Hitler at all?
Client: Luxor
Ad Agency: Leo Burnett Mumbai, India
The text reads, "Cigarettes kill more."
Client: Unimed
Ad Agency: Saatchi & Saatchi, Brazil
