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50 Hilarious Advertising Fails You Might Find Hard To Believe Were Actually Approved (New Pics)
Mad Men almost managed to convince the world that marketing was made by clever folks in swanky offices, discussing and debating the ins and outs of human wants and needs. Certainly, sometimes that is the case. But there are a lot more ads and companies out there than there are competent marketers.
We’ve gathered some of the most unhinged, cursed and hilarious advertisement fails from across the world. So get comfortable as you scroll through, upvote your favorites and be sure to share your thoughts in the comments below.
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Anti-Smoking Ad Accidentally Recommends Quitting The Wrong Thing
Andrew Irish 2 weeks ago
Somebody noticed when this was being applied. They either super don't care to an almost impressive degree of apathy, or it cracked them up.
RELATED:
#2
Chinese Hair Salon Uses Google Translate To Create An Advertising Banner, But Seems Like Their WiFi Was Down
#3
Oh Good, Didn’t Want To Misplace It!
There is a distinctive difference between cheap, unimaginative ads and marketing so terrible that it actively diminishes your brand’s image. Take, for example, a 2015 ad from Bloomingdales, which included the line “Spike your best friend’s eggnog when they’re not looking.”
This is the sort of thing that absolutely begs the question, how did someone think this was ok? Their PR did issue an apology and, in a show of maturity, didn’t just blame it on some rogue marketer. However, the folks calling the shots at Bloomingdales did also approve of this ad, so that raises some questions.
#4
This Habitat For Humanity Van
#5
If There Is An Award For Advertising, I'm Sure This One Ain't Up For It
#6
Billboard My Wife Found In Indiana
Some companies will “show” just how much they trust their products by putting themselves at risk. The manufacturers of bulletproof glass come to mind, standing behind their product as someone tests a gun. Very little room for fails here. In 2006, Todd Davis, CEO of LifeLock, a company that sold data protection services put out an ad with his actual social security number.
#7
Boldly Going Where No Man Has Gone Before
#8
This Ad For Teeth Whitening
Premislaus de Colo 2 weeks ago
If you look at the slogan you'll see that this is intentional and eye-catching, so this doesn't really fit here
#9
‘Oilyfans’ Billboards Show Bp Chief Executive Topless After Earning £10 Million
The gist was simple, LifeLock’s services were, according to Todd Davis, so effective, that even with his SSN plastered across billboards, scammers and fraudsters would still not be able to do anything. It probably won’t come as a surprise that his identity was stolen over 13 times, and, to add insult to injury, he was made to pay multiple false advertising fines. If your ad is so bad the FTC has to get involved, you messed up.
#10
But... Where Did The Snowflake Come From??
#11
I See Your Car Doors And Bus Windows, And Give You This
#12
This Large Billboard Of A Random Goat
#13
Got The Copy Done For That Billboard
#14
Whoopsie, Shanghai Uses Wrong Poster (Fanmade) To Promote Thor Movie
#15
That Is Not How That Works
#16
Flew Into Dia The Other Day And Saw This Ad. They're Leaning Into It The Conspiracies And I Am *here* For It
#17
This Ad I Saw Knocking Prince Andrew
#18
That's A Lot Of Legs For Three Women
#19
Choose Asia. Choose Wrong
#20
This Ad Caught My Eyes
#21
Advertising Ethical Business
#22
Put Up The Advertisement Boss
#24
This Billboard Literally Makes No Sense
#25
Maybe Not The Best Two Billboards Right Next To Each Other... Just Sayin
#26
This Ad
#27
At A Local Library. Have No Idea What’s Going On
#28
Somebody Didn't Have His Coffee
#29
The Menopause; It's Natural, Irish And Genuinely Works
#30
People Will Never Learn To Not Put Faces In Corners
#31
Interesting Billboard On My Way To Work
#32
Put Up That Ad For You Boss
#33
I Don't Even Have The Words
#34
I Live In Ghana. This Billboard Is On A Highway Near My House
Adrienne FWB 2 weeks ago
Surely this is a fake - "whiles" driving? Or someone is worse at editing than advertising.
#35
This Billboard Has A Clear Message That #sanjose Can't Ignore
#36
This Ad
#37
Bus Ad That Seems To Be Advertising Human Trafficking
#38
Another Unattainable Body Portrayed In Advertising
Steve Robert 2 weeks ago
Sometimes, the magician trick doesn't work. At least she found another job.
#39
Taste The Feeling Of Cr*ppy Lenticular Design
#40
Goeye Rgelash
#41
Drove Past This Malfunctioning Billboard Outside A Major Sports Stadium
#42
“I Put That Billboard Up, Boss!”
#43
I Don't Think Mirrors Work Like That
#44
As Campaign In Munich For The Euro Championship
#45
An Ad On A Game I'm Playing. The More You Look. Not Sure What The Goal Of The Advertiser Was With The Editing Of This Photo, But This Is An Ad For Vacations
Lowrider 56 2 weeks ago
I don't think we have much to worry about regarding AI..... at least not yet.
Jon Mock 2 weeks ago
Are you kidding? It's this bad now and it seems to fool far too many people. We may not have a lot to worry about with AI, humans on the other hand have me worried.
Load More Replies... BewilderedBanana 2 weeks ago
My guess is someone tried to remove a watermark, without much success :)
#46
There Wan An Attempt To Advertise
#47
This Shopped Car At The Mazda Booth At The Portland International Auto Show
#48
Cool New Ad!
#49
They Should Have Mirrored Her On The Other Side
Add New Image
What do you think ?
Mäandertal 2 weeks ago
I've got 90% of these saved in meme folder called "old as Moses". So glad they're still delighting the web
nana theater 2 weeks ago
Obviously the editor has no idea what the difference is between very bad ads and very good ads.
Mäandertal 2 weeks ago
I've got 90% of these saved in meme folder called "old as Moses". So glad they're still delighting the web
nana theater 2 weeks ago
Obviously the editor has no idea what the difference is between very bad ads and very good ads.
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