http://youtube.com/watch?v=1iEtW0CNGyY?rel=0
There's bad advertising and then there's Forearm Forklift advertising. Johnny Dahlke sent us this ad on Twitter and we were left in awe of what transpires in the two minute ad promoting the Forearm Forklift lifting straps. From confusing, mixed messages to blatant racial stereotypes, Forearm Forklift hits every checkpoint on the awful advertising checklist.
We'll start with the obvious racial overtones. We think Forearm Forklift set a new record for racism in a two minute commercial. The wealthy white family, named Smith, complete with a sweater around the husband's neck. The Asian family – named Wang no less – with multiple children. Worst of all, the Hispanic family that for some reason is covered in dirt and debris because they paid professional carpet cleaners. We aren't even positive what is going on near the end of the spot where a large man we're assuming is supposed to be a Japanese sumo wrestler, states there's big savings. So much racism, so little time.
Then there's the equally obvious "Don't move people at all" text shown repeatedly on the screen. If you're not supposed to move people with this product, why is nearly every single demonstration of the product in this ad moving furniture with people, typically a kid, sitting on top of it? Please, don't do this even though we're going to do it multiple times in our own commercial. The stupidity is palpable.
Wait, why did the rock star parents have their kid locked up in a cabinet at the start of the commercial? Why does the African American family have a large dresser in front of their fireplace? We tried to reason a solution to these questions but our brains hurt from watching this commercial so many times.
Remember! Don't lift people at all but please excuse us while we demonstrate how to lift five different people within our two minute commercial. Oh, and if your forearms snap while lifting your entertainment center, that's on you – not our product.
