PETA has long been known for risky marketing tactics. Following the PETA marketing folks’ trend, they have produced yet another commercial banned from airing on television during the upcoming 2009 Super Bowl XLIII. Although the PETA commercial will not be aired during Super Bowl XLIII, the banned commercial’s video “Veggie Love” will surely circulate across the Internet enough, and at a lower cost to PETA, to make up for much of its lacking television airplay.
The cause for the commercial being banned is due to the overtly sexual nature of the video, but that is seldom a concern on the Internet. Regardless of the airing on Super Bowl XLIII, PETA’s “Veggie Love” advertising campaign is poised to become a bigger hit online than expected. When I recently visited their Website, the video would not play. However, it is also available for download, and on YouTube. For that matter, it is not so unlikely that somebody has already tried to email it to you.
What is PETA?
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. Just in case you are not familiar with the PETA organization, it is a group set to end unethical treatment of animals, including for food, clothing, or just about anything other than to raise as one’s own family. You will find more information about PETA on their Website, PeTA.org.
Watch PETA Commercial Banned by NBC
I did not personally find the commercial to be offensive. It is perhaps in poor taste for the message they are serving, but there is no nudity or outrageously offensive content. However, if you are easily offended by a woman licking a pumpkin or making out with broccoli and asparagus, simply don’t press play.
PETA Viral Marketing
Although I disagree with the methods and the message represented by PETA, as a marketing guy, I must give great respect to the marketing group for their viral marketing campaigns. If only the team had a better project to work with, they would surely see greater success.
My Personal Take on PETA
I used to think PETA stood for People Eating Tasty Animals, and I still prefer that version. If animals were not for eating, why do I keep seeing them at the grocery store? I am not out to treat them unethically, and I can certainly respect the animals I ingest (some more than others). I will perhaps never understand how it is unethical to follow one’s own nature to eat animals, but it makes me wonder what crafty things would happen to the human body as it evolved to their vegetarian views if we stopped. I also wonder what we would do to deal with the huge influx of animal population if we so broadly disrupted the food chain.
Keep Eating Animals!
It is my goal, and surely that of many of my readers, to keep eating those yummy animals we have come to love. In fact, I think I will now make a special trip to the grocery and pick up some extra dead animals to enjoy with my beer as I watch Super Bowl XLIII this coming Sunday.