Brandi Cameron

Controversy in marketing ads can cripple businesses, and even cause them to come under scrutiny, investigation, criminal or civil law suits. Some even end up being pulled from the airwaves. I will preface what I am about to say by first telling you that I did laugh when I saw this commercial, hysterically in fact, even though it is quite controversial and stereotypical.

Ladies, I am sure all of you have seen Summer’s Eve’s new “Hail to the V,” ad campaign commercial that aired on national television marketing a feminine wipe for women, in order to keep their vagina happy! The commercial I am referring to is not this particular commercial, but another of Summer’s Eve’s commercials within this campaign that only aired on the internet.

The commercial is a women’s hand, painted like a face, which is supposed to be a talking vagina. It is referred to in this commercial as a women’s vertical smile! The commercial and the talking vagina go on to cover many different ethnicities, such as black, Asian, and Latina. If the fact that the term vertical smile is used to refer to a women’s vagina isn’t offensive enough, the Ay yi yi, arriba, arriba, bellowed out by the Latina vagina, and the prolific hair featured on the black vagina might make you change your mind, or be enraged.

Enraged is a term that describes a lot of the consumers who have seen this commercial. I personally saw it on the Chelsea Lately show. As I said earlier, I was doubled over with laughter but I have to say, it is extremely controversial, stereotypical, and offensive. The marketing team at Summer’s Eve is either genius or mad. It is obvious that they target women but I am not sure what they thought they would accomplish by annoying over half of the women in the country. Check out one of the ads: http://bcove.me/kmgwz4jg

How to you feel about this ad campaign?

Photograph Credit:
Sabrina Segal