Mountain Dew’s “PuppyMonkeyBaby” was not the only commercial to make people say, “hmm” during Sunday night’s Super Bowl 50, because select markets in New York, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., got treated to this spot promoting tourism in Colonial Williamsburg that featured a shot of the 9/11 attacks. But what does the biggest tragedy the United States has ever experienced have to do with a historic village known for its super-authentic butter-churning demonstrations?
The spot sets out to remind us that “it started here” by running through a montage of notable events in U.S. history to demonstrate how far we’ve come in a few hundred years. But in addition to the leaps and bounds that have been made, the commercial points out that to get us here, we’ve also experienced our share of “sacrifices, our breakthroughs, and yes, our heartbreaks.”
A spokesperson for the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation later issued in a statement that the commercial was intended to “walk viewers backwards through time, challenging them to reflect on how our collective history and struggles shape who we are as Americans today.” Which, okay. But you can’t blame folks for getting upset at seeing 9/11 footage rolling during the Super Bowl, as many sounded off on Twitter following the airing of the spot to either shame or poke fun at the campaign.
Congratulations to all the brands. Except Colonial Williamsburg. I’d say go to hell, but you’re already Colonial Williamsburg.
— jesse spector (@jessespector) February 8, 2016
Like millions of others who watched the Super Bowl I had nightmares about 9/11 and woke up with an urge to go to Colonial Williamsburg.
— David Lawson (@dtlawson) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/dylanmatt/status/696504836301393920
World Trade Center destruction in reverse?? Not cool, not cool at all, @colonialwmsburg. #ColonialWilliamsburg #ugh https://t.co/AHGvWu1UbQ
— Michael MPH © (@PhillyPartTwo) February 8, 2016
Using 9/11 for commercial purposes is as uncool as using Auschwitz. #colonialwilliamsburg
— Alex Polkhovsky (@polkhovsky) February 8, 2016
Remember that time 3000 people died? #ColonialWilliamsburg
— Greg Andersson (@Andersson_Greg) February 8, 2016
Can… Can Colonial Williamsburg reverse 9/11?
— Christine Nangle (@nanglish) February 8, 2016
lol someone please confirm the colonial williamsburg super bowl ad was not a nachos-induced fever dream
— Caitlin Kelly (@caitlin__kelly) February 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/AthertonKD/status/696505827243507713
It's a good thing that the agency behind last year's Nationwide commercial is still getting work. #ColonialWilliamsburg
— Devin Landin (@devinlandin) February 8, 2016
"Welcome to Colonial Williamsburg. That's where we churn butter. And that's our edit bay where we play the towers falling in reverse."
— Taran Killam (@TaranKillam) February 8, 2016
So, yeah. Next time maybe just stick to the butter-churning stuff, guys.
(Via Washington Post)
