EasyJet recalls magazine with Holocaust memorial fashion shoot

The Local.de ^ | 24 Nov 09

[GonzoII]

EasyJet recalls magazine with Holocaust memorial fashion shoot

Published: 24 Nov 09 10:14 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/society/20091124-23481.html

British discount airline easyJet has recalled some 280,000 copies of its in-flight magazine after complaints about a fashion shoot staged at Berlin’s Holocaust memorial, daily Financial Times Deutschland reported on Tuesday.

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The November edition of “easyJet Traveller,” which features a fashion section with fashion models in provocative poses amid the pillars of the sombre monument to the six million Jews killed by the Nazis, in addition to shots taken at the city's Jewish Museum, has sparked outrage in the British and Israeli press.

According to the paper, easyJet issued a statement apologising to anyone who may have been offended by the magazine spread, explaining that it had been produced by an external advertising agency.

Meanwhile a spokesperson for the Foundation for the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe told the paper that the agency did not register to take the photographs at the site in central Berlin.

Foundation Director Uwe Neumärker also said that only projects “that have a contextual reference to the memorial” are allowed to use the site and commercial activities are strictly forbidden.

The paper said easyJet is now reviewing their relationship with the company that produced the photo shoot.

[Hodar]

In what world would a ‘genius’ think that this was appropriate? I mean, I’ve heard of poor decision making, but this is pretty colossal.

Reminds me of an advert camapign AMD released, showing groups of ‘real’ people who use AMD chips in their PCs. The cover shot had a ‘geek’ in the back of the room reading a magazine with a naked woman on the cover. And AMD’s advertising group chose that picture to launch their Antlon campaign - on banners on campus, in the newspaper, on flyers, and passed out at conventions. Over a week later, someone pointed out the obvious; and AMD went into a mad ‘recover and destroy’ mode; going to employee cubes and recovering the advetising material.

Amazing lack of thought.

[Little Ray]

Reminds me “Mode” magazine in Ugly Betty when they did the “Traffic Accident,” “Mosquito Net” shoot and the “War” photo shoots.

[SJSAMPLE]

In customer service, things like this are really where you break new ground and learn something.

Something here went terribly, terribly wrong.
Rather than to just go into full burn and denial mode, the magazine and the advert agency really need to sit down with whoever thought this was a good idea for a photo shoot.

Really.
Kinda like getting into Hannibal Lecter’s mind.

Remember the movie, “Crazy People” with Dudley Moore and Darryl Hannah?

Those Sony and Jag-u-ar advertisements were great.
“Yes. I want a h-——b.”

[colorado tanker]

I can see this happening without any thought in modern Europe where most people are anti-Israel to the extent they think about Jews at all.

[SJSAMPLE]

You’d think a Holocaust memorial would have directors, people in charge, guards, etc., who would say, “WTF?” (in German, of course).

[wolf78]

Well, the memorial is - intentionally - situated in the middle of Berlin, right next to the US Embassy and the world-famous Adlon Hotel, a few meters from the Brandenburg Gate. And it kind of works, too: In the middle of the bustling city around you, you feel isolated and lost amongst the stelae and it's strangely quiet. The downside to this "interactive" approach and the decision not to put a fence around it is that it's basically open to anyone, only the information center is supervised.

[colorado tanker]

I have not been there, but went to the website. It looks like an open site, accessible 24 hours a day without admission charges. So, I suppose they could get in there without permission. Still, one would think they would have been noticed by security or a tour guide.

[Mister Muggles]

Just another attempt by the genderless DREKS in the fashion industry to look “cutting edge” and relevant.

[SJSAMPLE]

I did not know that.
Thanks.

I was last in Berlin in 1989 (yep) and it was a hell of a time. I’d love to go back some day. My non-military trips to Germany since 1992 have all been heavily-focused and I haven’t been able to tour as much as I’d like.