Bloomingdale’s apologizes for ad that encourages readers to ‘spike your friend’s drink’

Bloomingdale’s is apologizing for going full Cosby in its most recent ad for Rebecca Minkoff. “Spike your best friend’s drink when they’re not looking,” reads the copy over a photo of a man leering creepily at an oblivious laughing woman. ‘Tis the season … for date rape?

Both the timing and the tone of the ad, which ran in Bloomingdale’s most recent catalog, struck many as deeply objectionable. Spiking a drink is, of course, illegal, and Bill Cosby stands accused of drugging and raping dozens of women over the course of his career.

The high-end retailer gave a statement about the ad to Tech Insider, in which the company apologized (and misplaced its own apostrophe).

“In reflection of recent feedback, the copy we used in our recent catalog was inappropriate and in poor taste. Bloomingdales’ sincerely apologizes for this error in judgment.”

The ad, with clockwork predictability, sparked a firestorm of outrage online.

 

Bloomingdale’s declined to further elaborate on the ad.

Still, there must be something in the retail waters. The Bloomingdale’s snafu comes just days after H&M put its foot in its mouth on Twitter when one customer tweeted with a request it include more black models in its global marketing campaign. The company tweeted back that it makes hires that “convey a positive image” in its stores.

https://digiday.com/?p=146171

More in Marketing

Digiday+ Research case study: How brands and influencers are diving into YouTube Shorts

Digiday+ Research assesses how brands and influencers are using Shorts to reach new audiences and what types of Shorts videos create the most buzz for marketers.

The header image features an illustration with a dollar bill that has the Snapchat logo in the center.

Why Snapchat is using a custom video game to get closer to its agency partners

Yesterday, Snapchat marked its return to in-person agency roadshows, sending company representatives to Horizon Media’s Manhattan office to showcase a Snap-designed video game intended to capture the essence of what it’s like to work at an agency — and how Snapchat can be part of the process.

Babylist, TodayTix Group and Liquid Death grow their in-house teams as they try to save money, have more control

As in-housing settles in as a mainstay, some marketers push for complete control.