Throughout the years of this business, we get calls to run some controversial ads. Let me first give out a disclaimer: Ad Runner doesn’t endorse any ad that we run. We are providing a service and we try to remain neutral in any situation. I am going to recap some of the most controversial ad campaigns that we have run and give a little insight into how the world reacts!
Russian Ties: Most recently, a group had us run a campaign with an ad that had Trump and Putin riding shirtless on a horse. They requested that we drove around rallies in Raleigh, NC and Newport News, Va for a day. During these 2 days, some cheered for the ad, and some gave us “the bird”. We had things thrown at the truck, threats made to the driver, and a lot of foul language thrown our way. It certainly got the attention the client was after. Several news stations in both locations filmed the truck.
Hillary for Prison: During the 2016 Presidential race, a group called InfoWars.com went to the Republican National Convention and the Democratic National Convention with t-shirts, hats, memorabilia, and of coarse mobile billboard trucks with banners saying “Hillary for Prison!” Yet again, the media was all over this and it caused quite a scene everywhere the trucks went. In the northern part of the country, the ad was not very well received. In fact, our driver was thrown out of McDonald’s by the manager because of the ad. In the southern states, people cheered, asked to take photos with the truck, and one person even bought the driver’s lunch. It was very interesting to see the divide, none the less, the truck got the attention of millions.
In Philadelphia ready for the 2016 DNC
Verizon CEO: Back in 2013, we were hired to run this ad in New York against the CEO of Verizon. One day, our driver had a note on the windshield (perhaps from the CEO himself) blaming someone else and asked us to stop with the truck! I guess he was receiving a lot of phone calls.
PETA KILLS: A couple of years ago, we ran a campaign for an ANTI-PETA group protesting against PETA as their protesters were protesting at Sea World locations around the country. Make sense? Their billboard featured their website www.petakillsanimals.com and a syringe and you know PETA hated the trucks and our drivers. They had derogatory things to say to the drivers, made obscene gestures, and even hired their own “billboard truck” to help their cause. As the “battle” continued for several weeks, the client had us drive the truck to PETA Headquarters and park it in front of their offices for a day. Not long after that, the protesting died down and the client felt the campaign was successful!
Happy 40th Birthday!: Not a controversial campaign, but definatly uniuqe and just fun! This birthday boy has some pretty great friends who like him enough to wish him happy birthday on a 10′ x 20′ mobile billboard. He was a great sport about it and after getting over the shock, I think he actually liked the surprise!
KFC: Get Your Chickens Off Drugs!: This was a funny ad due to the uniqueness of the ad itself. The client had something to say to KFC about the chickens they use and created this ad to advertise around the headquarters of KFC. No one seemed to be offended (other than a few KFC store managers and employees) but many did laugh and ask to take photos with the truck.
Do you have a statement that you want to make? Call Ad Runner today and get a mobile billboard truck on the road for your needs!