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There’s good advertising that makes you convinced you can’t live without the product or service. Then, there's excellent advertising that proves it’s a form of art, just like these mind-bending and clever billboard ads.

And then, you've got hilariously bad advertising. When you see one, you know it. Whether it’s product placing that has gone wrong, a slogan that sounds way off, or an overall design that gives people second and third thoughts, these are the ad fails worthy of the prize.

So let’s buckle up for a fun ride which is basically a masterclass on how not to “create and produce an ad,” as compiled in this list by Bored Panda. Take notes, kids, it’s about to get heavy.

#1

This Ad For Graduation Photography

This Ad For Graduation Photography

box_cardinal_peanut Report

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    #2

    I Pass This Billboard Everyday And Everyday I Think He’s A Vampire

    I Pass This Billboard Everyday And Everyday I Think He’s A Vampire

    fitygrands Report

    There are so many ways an advertising campaign, a billboard, a print ad, and a commercial can go wrong. But one of the greatest faux pas is “false advertising.” The term refers to ads that use misleading, dishonest, and plain “false” assumptions in their content in order to promote or market products and services.

    One should remember to respect the consumers who, as a result of the ad, may feel lied to and fooled. Such negative ads rapidly create a very bad image of a brand, and it can lead to various biases about it.

    As a result, sales immediately suffer and it takes ages to gain back consumers’ trust in the brand. Thus, false advertising is one of the most dangerous mistakes you can make while advertising your product and it never, ever pays off.

    #3

    This Ad Placement

    This Ad Placement

    vadge Report

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    Luisa Vasconcelos
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This looks like my phone, everything I even think about something, out of nothing come all the advertising.

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    #4

    I Used To Be Able To See The Towel On Her Head

    I Used To Be Able To See The Towel On Her Head

    mikaelstein Report

    Another form of unethical advertising is ads that employ misrepresentation of a product or a service in a way that use a subliminal message to fit the brand's hidden agenda. These kinds of ads often use deception and manipulation to make consumers want their product or service and believe they can't live without it.

    For example, Reebok launched an infamous “Cheat On Your Girlfriend, Not Your Workout” ad campaign back to 2012 and received immediate backlash. Initially, the ad was intended to motivate consumers, but in turn, it spread the wrong message and encouraged infidelity.

    #6

    I Think She Should Go To The Hospital Instead Of Booking A Flight

    I Think She Should Go To The Hospital Instead Of Booking A Flight

    MariaDmnd Report

    The sportswear brand acknowledged the ad was offensive and pulled it, as many consumers were boycotting the brand. They wrote an open letter that stated: “This form of advertising shows a dishonest and disrespectful attitude towards women and your company should be ashamed to have even placed this ad in various places thinking it would be perceived in any other way.”

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    Moreover, the Federal Trade Commission deemed the campaign false advertising in its unsubstantiated claims about exercise benefits, and Reebok was made to pay a $25 million fine.

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    #9

    A Bag Of Apples With A Character On It That Got Poisoned By An Apple

    A Bag Of Apples With A Character On It That Got Poisoned By An Apple

    Red_Rolo09 Report

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    general kenøbi
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Just wondering —does anyone know what language this is/ what country it’s in?

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    Another controversial ad example that made a tremendous negative impact on brand image was the series of ads by Protein World released 5 years ago in London Underground. One of its posters asking "Are you beach body ready?" caused public outrage and even sparked vigilante acts of vandalism.

    There were 378 official complaints regarding the body-shaming campaign filed to the UK's Advertising Standards Authority. Moreover, a petition to have the ads removed was launched, and demonstrations followed.

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    #13

    I’m Certain They Could Have Used A Better Slogan

    I’m Certain They Could Have Used A Better Slogan

    BeaulaGoo Report

    #15

    If You’re Going To Use The Dumbbell As An “I” Then You Don’t Need Another “I”

    If You’re Going To Use The Dumbbell As An “I” Then You Don’t Need Another “I”

    BassAckwards31 Report

    In 2017, Dove released an ad clip on Facebook for Dove body wash where a black woman was pictured removing her top and morphing into a white woman after she used the product. Such portrayal was not only horrendously racist, it promoted “whitewashing” and sparked a well-deserved outrage.

    Coming from a powerhouse like Dove, which, according to their slogan, champions "real beauty," the ad seriously damaged the brand's reputation.

    #16

    I Followed This Bus For 4 Blocks To Wait For It To Pull Over To Share This Beautiful Work Of Art

    I Followed This Bus For 4 Blocks To Wait For It To Pull Over To Share This Beautiful Work Of Art

    Germantoast33 Report

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    #17

    Finally, A Shower That Works With My Broken Neck

    Finally, A Shower That Works With My Broken Neck

    dinglehump Report

    #19

    The Implication That This Tooth Has Genitals

    The Implication That This Tooth Has Genitals

    Dylflon Report

    #20

    Sometimes The Answer Is In The Box Too

    Sometimes The Answer Is In The Box Too

    lukeglenn Report

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    Chris Hardtke
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Do you really need to cheat by going outside the grid AFTER you took 6 turns to your opponent’s 3?

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    According to the Online Marketing Institute, “bad commercials often try for a quality that the good ones have, and fall short of the mark, or else lack it completely.” And one of the worst things you can do as a brand building an ad campaign is treating your customers like fools, which “means talking down to them and trivializing their values, beliefs, or experiences.”

    #22

    The Brazilian Vaccination Mascot Looks Like KKK

    The Brazilian Vaccination Mascot Looks Like KKK

    alan04eu Report

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    chi-wei shen
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Even though it looks creepy you have to take into account that there is no KKK in Brazil and most Brazilians wouldn't think about KKK.

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    #23

    I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

    I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

    generationfire Report

    #24

    Let God Arse

    Let God Arse

    KenNCM Report

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    Shazz Winchester
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    took me a minute to figure out the sword is meant to be an 'I' and it's Thursday, not even a Monday #PrayForMe

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    In reality, consumers are humans and a good ad needs a human touch to it to be convincing, appealing, and interesting. Sometimes, though, brands decide to take a shortcut into consumers' hearts by manipulating their feelings, which in turn results in lazy, tone-deaf, and appalling advertising disasters.

    #28

    The Quotation Marks On This Sign Gives It A Malevolent Undertone

    The Quotation Marks On This Sign Gives It A Malevolent Undertone

    sleightlymagical Report

    #29

    This Guy's Frog Legs Featured In An Ad

    This Guy's Frog Legs Featured In An Ad

    MeerK4T Report

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    Creating a good ad is somewhat of a form of art, and although mistakes happen even to the best of us, some are forgivable, and others, not so much. In the end, the sales and brand perception tell it all.

    #30

    Saw This Ad For A Shirt That’s Supposed To Say Saturday

    Saw This Ad For A Shirt That’s Supposed To Say Saturday

    virginmary93 Report

    #31

    "Hide The Pain Harold" Becomes Face Of French Coronavirus "Thank You, Heroes" Campaign

    "Hide The Pain Harold" Becomes Face Of French Coronavirus "Thank You, Heroes" Campaign

    jeancafecreme Report

    #33

    Finally A Realistic Mannequins In Women's Lingerie Store

    Finally A Realistic Mannequins In Women's Lingerie Store

    B_Monster Report

    #34

    This Monstrosity

    This Monstrosity

    Hantook Report

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    Full Name
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Left - right, up - down, backwards, in no direction does this make sense.

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    #39

    This Ebay Advertisement For A Sleep Mask Photo Shopped Out Her Nose And Left One Nostril

    This Ebay Advertisement For A Sleep Mask Photo Shopped Out Her Nose And Left One Nostril

    rosalina888 Report

    #40

    This Really Odd Advertisement For Transit Around My City (Where Did The Bus Driver Come From?)

    This Really Odd Advertisement For Transit Around My City (Where Did The Bus Driver Come From?)

    LoveGhostDotEXE Report

    #42

    Yes, The Earth

    Yes, The Earth

    boring_space_waffle Report

    #43

    That’s A Pokemon In The Bag

    That’s A Pokemon In The Bag

    ungori11 Report

    #44

    This Library Poster

    This Library Poster

    holzdnbein Report

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    Laura Mende
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Looking at these ads, i'm sure they're smoking something. Maybe a clichee but a true one. 😂😂

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    #45

    Ah Yes, China, My Favorite Food

    Ah Yes, China, My Favorite Food

    TheJemcins Report

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    Owl
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    lemme point out Baguette is a sandwich? IDK I've only seen the loaves. sry if I'm just being an idiot

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    Gold roses
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I’ll have some Japan with a side of Vietnam and for dessert ummm more Japan I would like dango 🍡

    Crystal R
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's in another language, everything else just happens to be the same in English. I'm guessing this is a Scandinavian country, and there you don't say "Chinese food" you do say "China-food" and salat is how some scandis spell it

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    GoddessOdd
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Are Pizza and Salat the same person? Pizza looks like the daughter of Salat.

    Luala Dy
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    guys, in some countries it's "salat" not "salad", it's not misspelled

    Sean Pack
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm kinda partial to Salat,though.Every time I eat a "china", I need to hunt another one down in an hour or so.

    Jb Dean
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    They couldn’t have used the same woman & just put CHINA under her face eating a bowl of rice? Do they think their patrons won’t get it without a small Chinese boy? 🤔

    WinterberrytheLeafIceWing
    Community Member
    2 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    Tina Harnish
    Community Member
    2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The one lady eats her pizza with a weird kink to her arm. The hand clasped against her shirt looks very small.

    fuggnuggins
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Reading these comments is a spot-the-grammar/correct-spelling challenge in itself, and still everyone has something to say about how information is presented in a foreign country while half the time being oblivious even that it is a foreign country.

    Abigail Nagel
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Hmmm I’ll have the salat with a side of China and some baguette too

    Cameron Washington
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

    Vanilla Rose
    Community Member
    3 years ago

    This comment has been deleted.

    Daniel Marsh
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The there's the Godzilla cartoon... "So, do you feel like eating Japanese tonight?"

    sjfhwgefwefyqjwhjbcsacvjhwgdej
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Please put rice (that's actually kind of racist no hate to the person who posted this though)

    MiriPanda
    Community Member
    3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    All these spellings make sense in German, so I guess that's were ii is located (but it should still read Chinesisch (Chinese) not China...)

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    #47

    Enjoy A Nice Massage In A Moving Car With Your Eyes Closed

    Enjoy A Nice Massage In A Moving Car With Your Eyes Closed

    colorfl0 Report

    #48

    Probably It's More Convenient This Way

    Probably It's More Convenient This Way

    Bobik42 Report

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    Sum Guy
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is what happens when you get a model who has never seen sugar do your ad

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    #50

    Me And My Clones On The Job

    Me And My Clones On The Job

    doctor_blob Report

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    Thijs L.
    Community Member
    3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    tbh, with the slogan it does make sense, the slogan says, 1 contact, 1 team, ie. you speak to one person and via them you contact the entire team

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    Note: this post originally had 87 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.