Fascinated that throughout the editing process, nobody suggested this Christmas ad is a bad idea #Bloomingdales pic.twitter.com/zUaNJnlK7y
— Lara Diamond Phillips (@laradphillips) November 11, 2015
A new advertisement from the Bloomingdale’s holiday catalog has ignited Twitter’s ire over what could be an intentional oversight. The ad, which shows a man suggestively glancing at his lady friend, reads, “Spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking.” Bloomingdale’s customers received this present in the mail, and someone captured the (major) flub for social media posterity. No one can comprehend how this ad’s copy passed through several editors on the way to the printers.
Bloomingdale’s essentially rang in the holiday season with an advertisement for roofies. What seems particularly damning about the ad is how its aesthetic plays up the vibe of Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” song and the video itself. There’s a reason why the tune caused a furor, and the Bloomingdale’s ad mimics the video’s white-walled backdrop to creepy perfection. Even worse, the male model in the ad sports a Thicke haircut. Could this ad campaign have been envisioned and bought to fruition through pure coincidence? Let’s hope Thicke’s video didn’t creep entirely into society’s collective subconsciousness.
This holiday season has already seen a strange Starbucks controversy, which was more about the fallout than the red cup themselves. This Bloomingdale’s controversy is much more straightforward, and Twitter is not pleased.
https://twitter.com/Four_Pins/status/664475592834727936
https://twitter.com/evepeyser/status/664237034031218688
Or don't and quit being a creep… #Bloomingdales pic.twitter.com/Liu8DKMMnP
— Kristen Alderson (@krisalderson) November 10, 2015
Hey @Bloomingdales – When is spiking anyone's drink EVER a good idea? 😳 #HolidayAd #RebeccaMinkoff pic.twitter.com/t4qaQlcuxp
— Dish Nation (@DishNation) November 11, 2015
https://twitter.com/DrJackMonroe/status/664449495560753152
https://twitter.com/ABowLikeYo/status/664500725406285824
https://twitter.com/ghostinmarble/status/664267715000053760
Far too late, Bloomingdale’s caught wind of the outrage and apologized.
We heard your feedback about our catalog copy, which was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdale's sincerely apologizes.
— Bloomingdale's (@Bloomingdales) November 10, 2015
This tweeter doesn’t accept the apology. She wants fire and brimstone.
https://twitter.com/runolgarun/status/664487239305420800
https://twitter.com/runolgarun/status/664222552693182464