Ford Upset by Web Ad Showing Decapitation

AP ^ | 04/19/04 | AP

[Pikamax]

Ford Upset by Web Ad Showing Decapitation

Sun Apr 18, 7:14 PM ET Add Technology - AP to My Yahoo!

DEARBORN, Mich. - Ford Motor Co. is upset by the release of an Internet advertisement that depicts the decapitation of a computer-animated cat by a power moonroof hatch, saying it didn't authorize the clip.

The ad for the Sportka, a hatchback sold in Europe, shows the realistic-looking orange cat climbing on top of the car and poking its head into the open moonroof, The Detroit News reported Sunday. The hatch slides closed, the cat struggles briefly and its headless body slides to the ground.

Ford says the clip was conceived without its approval by ad agency Ogilvy & Mather as part of a "viral marketing" campaign for the Sportka. "Viral marketing," a type of e-mail marketing, is the electronic version of word of mouth, usually inviting recipients to forward an e-mail to others.

"We find this unauthorized ad totally unacceptable and reprehensible and deplore the fact that it has been unofficially issued," Ford spokesman Oscar Suris said.

Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide issued a statement saying it also didn't sanction the commercial, which was leaked onto the Internet on April 1.

"Both companies find this unofficial advertisement totally unacceptable and reprehensible," the statement said. "The action in the video clip was totally computer generated, and we would like to assure you that no animal was harmed in its making."

[Conservomax]

Come on, It's fake.

[Constitution Day]

I think they're damned funny.
The cat one is especially great because it will piss off cat lovers!

[F14 Pilot]

Not when you have a nice cat!

[hookman]

...it will piss off cat lovers!
I've seen this before, couldn't stop laughing!
But it's still no match for my cat!!!

[Blue Scourge]

All three of them are hillarious....

[King Prout]

sick as hell, but also funny as hell.

[cyborg]

LOL!

[nuconvert]

I saw it...It doesn't look fake to me.
It's animal cruelty.

[nuconvert]

"piss-off cat lovers?"

And what if those cat lovers are freepers?

[Constitution Day]

Then I would humbly submit that said Freepers are far too sensitive.

There's no way that that is an ACTUAL decapitation.

[nuconvert]

What if someone decides to make a "funny" ad with a little kid's head in there?
Would that be amusing too? Would FR allow links to that?

[mgc1122]

I would agree far too many people lack a sense of humor ... and take these things w-a-a-a-a-a-a-ay too seriously.

[Constitution Day]

[Constitution Day]

Thank you.

[nuconvert]

No...it's not decapitation.....it's a cat, that at very least, is subjected to cruelty by having it's neck trapped in the roof. That's at the VERY LEAST! Does it look like the cat is enjoying that part???? I think the cat is unconscious when it falls off the car. And who knows if it survived?

[Constitution Day]

That's why they have nine lives.

Have a good one! ;)

[nuconvert]

I see.........so not enjoying seeing an animal trapped and struggling to get free bothers you?

[Petronski]

Get over yourself. It was done with computers.

[nuconvert]

How Christian of you...........

[Constitution Day]

Undoubtedly.