Introduction
Applebee’s, a popular American restaurant chain, has recently come under fire for a television ad that many have deemed insensitive. The ad, which was part of the company’s “Eat This Not That” campaign, featured a woman choosing a healthier option over a less healthy one. While the intention of the ad was to promote healthy eating, many viewers felt that it was tone-deaf and perpetuated fat-shaming. This has sparked a debate about the role of food in our society and the responsibility of companies to be mindful of how their messaging is received.
Applebee’s Is Being Criticized For This ‘Insensitive’ TV Ad
Applebee’s is facing criticism for a recent TV ad that some are calling “insensitive” and “tone-deaf.” The ad, which aired during the Super Bowl, features a group of friends enjoying a meal at an Applebee’s restaurant. The ad then cuts to a close-up of a woman eating a burger, with the tagline “Eat this, not that.”
The ad has been met with criticism from many viewers, who feel that it implies that people should choose unhealthy food over healthy food. Some have also pointed out that the ad could be seen as promoting unhealthy eating habits, which could be damaging to people’s health.
Applebee’s has since apologized for the ad, saying that it was not their intention to promote unhealthy eating habits. They also said that they are committed to providing healthy options for their customers.
Despite the apology, many people are still unhappy with the ad and feel that it was insensitive and tone-deaf. They argue that it sends the wrong message to viewers, and that it could have a negative impact on people’s health.
It remains to be seen if Applebee’s will take any further action in response to the criticism, but it is clear that the ad has caused a lot of controversy.
An Applebee’s commercial that ran during CNN‘s coverage of the crisis involving Russia and Ukraine has people criticizing the brand.
The cable news network was covering Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday–and an Applebee’s ad made an appearance during a split-screen of the invasion, blasting Zac Brown Band’s upbeat “Chicken Fried” single played over footage of fried chicken and beer. A cowboy also danced across the screen.
Many people took to Twitter to share their dismay at the poorly-timed ad amid the crisis in Ukraine. This led Applebee’s to trend on Twitter Thursday afternoon with almost 20,000 tweets about the situation.
“This is just brutal timing,” one Twitter user said. “World War 3 sponsored by Applebees,” another said.
An Applebee’s spokesperson told MarketWatch over email that this ad never should have aired in the way that it did.
“We are deeply concerned about the situation in Ukraine,” the company rep wrote in a statement. “When we were made aware that our ad was placed in this manner, we immediately reached out to CNN to pause our advertising on their network. It never should have aired, and we are disappointed in the actions of the network.”
Many conservative CNN critics called out the news outlet for lacking in “tone and tact” with its “insensitive” marketing tactic.
For more restaurant news, check out 8 Worst Fast-Food Burgers to Stay Away From Right Now.
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