Whether it’s a cultural or sporting event, like the Super Bowl, or a natural disaster, like Hurricane Sandy, brands seem to be forever angling for ways to insert themselves into trending online conversations – for better or worse.
This time it might not be for better. MTV’s Video Music Awards were held last night and, predictably, brands just couldn’t resist chiming in. Here are five of the more-awkward social attempts. Are there any others we missed?:
Are all these @TacoBell commercials during the #VMAs making anyone else hungry?
— Taco Bell (@TacoBell) August 26, 2013
Yes. For Subway.
Get ready for the Red Carpet. @MTV #VMAs pic.twitter.com/ii52nfxOsk
— Red Bull (@redbull) August 25, 2013
This is a surprisingly forced tweet from a brand that constantly receives deserved praise for being so innovative.
Here it is! @NSYNC! Remember, if you need CPR: #vma https://t.co/nM8eEDSiTv
— Red Cross Oklahoma (@redcrossokc) August 26, 2013
This is a fairly clumsy attempt at glomming on to the N’SYNC chatter. But at least it’s for a good cause.
Reunite with your Coke 90s style, because things just got “IN SYNC!”
— Coca-Cola (@CocaCola) August 26, 2013
Just, don’t.
Awards? Do they even have music videos on TV anymore? #VMAs
— Domino’s Pizza (@dominos) August 26, 2013
This joke was old 10 years ago. Hopefully your pizzas arrive more quickly than your zingers.
Image via Shutterstock
More in Marketing
Lowe’s wants to do more with AI shopping in 2026
Mylow, a shopping assistant powered by ChatGPT that launched in March, is already driving double the conversion rate for online shoppers.
‘This isn’t the old pre-roll world’: YouTube has been talking TV — now it’s selling that way
YouTube is ramping up efforts to get TV’s largest advertisers to move more of their budget into its platform.
As every screen becomes shoppable, attribution problems resurface
As more media environments become points of purchase, attribution and measurement remain the thorn in the side of commerce execs.