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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

#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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#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.

#5

This Guy Must Be Feeling Pretty Great On This Ad

This Guy Must Be Feeling Pretty Great On This Ad

ErickJail Report

#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.

#7

Math Is Hard. Don't Let It Get You Down

Math Is Hard. Don't Let It Get You Down

weinythewhite Report

#8

Well, Now That The Floors Are Clean

Well, Now That The Floors Are Clean

TenacityMan Report

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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

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.

#10

How Did They Not See This?

How Did They Not See This?

barry_the_rotten Report

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#11

Yeah, Very Flexible

Yeah, Very Flexible

Omega_Hamster Report

#12

"Join Hands" To Make Hospitals "Infection Free"

"Join Hands" To Make Hospitals "Infection Free"

bea_easter12_ Report

#13

I’m Certain They Could Have Used A Better Slogan

I’m Certain They Could Have Used A Better Slogan

BeaulaGoo Report

#14

Wow! What A Bargain

Wow! What A Bargain

DjFizz 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

#18

Mother-Daughter Bonding At Its Finest

Mother-Daughter Bonding At Its Finest

pochama55 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

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.”

#21

Bread So Emo It Slices Itself

Bread So Emo It Slices Itself

BeanMachine0 Report

#22

The Brazilian Vaccination Mascot Looks Like KKK

The Brazilian Vaccination Mascot Looks Like KKK

alan04eu Report

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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

#25

It Almost Seems Intentional

It Almost Seems Intentional

Palifaith Report

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.

#26

Fantastic Ad Placement

Fantastic Ad Placement

reddit.com Report

#27

We Cut Kids

We Cut Kids

aTerrariaExpert Report

#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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See Also on Bored Panda

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

#32

This Woman Turning Into A Fish Roll

This Woman Turning Into A Fish Roll

Cream77 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

#35

Found This In An Ad Today

Found This In An Ad Today

serpin46 Report

#36

Then Why Should I Buy One?

Then Why Should I Buy One?

allyourbaseareoblong Report

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#37

Hard Hats Are For Safety

Hard Hats Are For Safety

CanadianUkr Report

#38

This Colon Cleanse Ad Is So Bad It's Hilarious

This Colon Cleanse Ad Is So Bad It's Hilarious

Svargas05 Report

#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

#41

Seriously?

Seriously?

GallowBoob 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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#45

Ah Yes, China, My Favorite Food

Ah Yes, China, My Favorite Food

TheJemcins Report

#46

Actually, On Second Thought, I’m Not So Hungry

Actually, On Second Thought, I’m Not So Hungry

Quillford Report

#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

#49

Why Would Red Block When He Could Win?

Why Would Red Block When He Could Win?

Chicchac Report

#50

Me And My Clones On The Job

Me And My Clones On The Job

doctor_blob Report

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