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PETA pulls a lame stunt

Posted: Tuesday, January 27, 2009 11:45 AM by Allison Linn
Filed Under:

We have a lot of sympathy for the cause that the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals seeks to promote. We don’t have much sympathy for their increasingly goofy attention-seeking antics.

The latest dustup the animal rights nonprofit has created involves their attempt to get NBC to air a completely inappropriate ad during the Super Bowl, and then to complain when the network rejected the softcore porn.

The ad, featuring women in bras and panties getting extremely busy with some vegetables, was rejected after NBC deemed the content too racy, according to an e-mail from NBC that PETA made available to msnbc.com. A network spokesman did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Image: "Veggie Love" video
PETA

(Yes, msnbc.com is a joint venture of Microsoft and NBC Universal, but that doesn’t influence our editorial decisions, about this ad or any other.)

Let’s face it: It’s extremely unlikely a network would air an ad like this during the Super Bowl, unless they wanted every mom and dad in America to blanket them with angry e-mails. Not only that, but most people who created an ad like this would understand that sex with vegetables, while perhaps acceptable for late night television, is not typical midday fodder, even on Super Bowl Sunday.

A spokesman for PETA, Michael McGraw, said the company was surprised the ad was rejected, and that they didn’t think it was more risqué than other commercials that have aired during the Super Bowl. The company has instead put the ad on its Web site, along with documentation about the rejection.

It’s true that Super Bowl advertisers have regularly tried to push the envelope on what is acceptable on Super Bowl Sunday, but this one strikes us as pushing further than most.

It’s one thing for PETA to shock people with videos of people blatantly mistreating animals, to draw attention to the very real cause of animal abuse. It’s another thing to create an extremely steamy video, and then complain about their supposedly unfair treatment.

Instead of making us think about the plight of animals, it made us think that some people will do anything to get attention.

Go to PETA's Web site to watch the ad.

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Comments

I watched the ad and agree PETA has gone way overboard on this one. The ad disgusted me. There is one shot where it looks like one woman is about to have actual intercourse with a vegetable. I have lost all respect for this organization. Too bad.

Debra, Columbus, OH (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:48 PM)

PETA can kiss my AZZ!!!!!!!

Bozo, Clown Town, CA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:48 PM)

The add was not that bad, go daddy.com has done worse.  I think this article is writen as informal response by NBC toward rejecting the add.  Carl's Jr has done worse, and I can count many more.  This makes me question the journalistic integrity of MSNBC.

EQ (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:51 PM)

What the hell...Another reason to hate PETA and the tree-hugging idiots that are in their organization.

Jeff Colt, Leavenworth, Kansas (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:52 PM)

Much Ado About Nothing!  How whiny the writers of the article sound: "it's one thing to blah blah blah, but it's ANOTHER THING to blah blah blah..."  You sound like Sunday School teachers afraid of your own shadow.  Obviously it's easy to see why the commercial will not air, but it's not necessary to play judge and give the decision praise.  

Darius Zardoz Vortex (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:52 PM)

I could watch that and eat vegetable all day.

David, Earth (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:53 PM)

Most of the ad was ok, I think, for superbowl use, though you are correct it is sad for PETA to act in this manner upon rejection. However, one shot just past halfway through DOES have full (top) nudity, only slightly blurred out. THAT would be inappropriate, for sure!

A. S., D.C. (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:56 PM)

P.E.T.A. People eating tasty animals

jim Modesto Ca (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:57 PM)

screw peta !

lantry treynor ia (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:58 PM)

peta sell out!no way!!sex sells and if you eat veggies,you can be beautiful too.arent I good
enough the way i am,now peta says i need to be
sexier also.shame.

dan johnson,littlefalls mn (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 3:59 PM)

Peta is dumb

bill, your mom's house (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:00 PM)

I love animals....they taste delicious!

tomwin (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:00 PM)

I love animals....they taste delicious!

tomwin (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:00 PM)

I agree.  While I have done many things to help PETA including holding protests I find this ad disturbing.  Why would you want it to appear sexual between you and your food?

Dorothy Pipher Gretan La (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:01 PM)

Yea, I think it was probably too much for family TV too.  But wow, that pumpkin licker.....geez!

Steve Arlington, TX (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:01 PM)

Why do Amercians get all bent out of shape over sex and nudity? I don't get it. Europeans and Asians have nudity and sex on tv. They aren't turned into perverts because of it. Sex is a natural and beautiful part of life. People need to get over it.

What I think is funny is it's totally acceptable to show someone getting blown away by a gun or slashed with a knife on prime time tv. Yet, as soon as a nipple is shown, hell has frozen over and we have congressional hearings over it. What's wrong with that picture?

Richard, Oralndo, Florida (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:02 PM)

OK, I haven't seen the ad yet, but it must be fairly racy since I am unable to view it through my work's internet filters.  I can bring up PETA's website, but all links to the ad are "Prohibitted Due to Pornographic Images".  I am fully aware that sex sells when you're talking about beer, cars, clothing, etc.  But to bring attention to the cause PETA supports, sex is not the way to go

Dennis (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:02 PM)

I think the campaign is brilliant.  They have succeeded in getting the public to focus on the ad, including the likes of MSN, without having to fork over $3 mil for 30 secs of air time.  PETA may be controversial, but you can't accuse them of being stupid.

Blaine (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:02 PM)

The only thing missing was an extra large kosher dill

amazed (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:02 PM)

And, now Peta gets their ad seen by millions for free because of this article.  Seems like a win, win situation for them!

Gail Brown, Peachtree City, GA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:02 PM)

The money for them to put on this ad during the Super Bowl can be used to buy foods for the homeless or donated to local food banks.  Let faces it, human welfare should come first before we're worried about the welfare of a bunch of animals...

Thomas Dinh, Austin TX (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:02 PM)

PETA is in the business of collecting money for a cause they themselves break. They do not actually save any animals or further animal rights via legislation. They are a group of big salaried people with big marketing budgets. How many animals were saved or animal rights laws passed in the last year as a result of Peta? Send your money to them so they can pass laws to rename fish "sea kittens." I guess Peta does know that "sex" sells and that's what they do. Just sell an idea.

Joe Bloggs (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:02 PM)

Peta is a lame group, what do you excpect.

R. Y. (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:03 PM)

PETA needs to find something else to do.  There are people that are hungry and school that are failing in THIS country, focus on that not on animals!

MeatEater (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:03 PM)

PETA needs to find something else to do.  There are people that are hungry and school that are failing in THIS country, focus on that not on animals!

MeatEater (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:03 PM)

i agree that this is not suitable for a family event like the superbowl.  far to risque for daytime tv.

Elaine Rowe, Brighton Colorado (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:04 PM)

PETA

People for the Eating and Tasting of Animals

Member since '79

Mark (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:05 PM)

Where is the ethical treatment of animals part of the commercial?  Let's not exploit animals, let's
exploit women!  I don't understand women going along with it!?!?!  

djbutler13, Littlefield TX (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:05 PM)

its not that bad...people need to grow up.  I think what we need is more commercials like that one and less commercials showing fat guys drinking beer or fat women cleaning something.  

steve smith (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:05 PM)

This is one of the reasons PETA membership has
stalled. A number of X members like myself are
unhappy with the new direction of the organization
which had extremly laudable goals

Joe Youngstown, NY (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:05 PM)

What a biased article.  I know you can never truly get rid of biased when you write, but this is just too much.  The title of this article predisposes the reader to think down upon PETA's actions.  You should just write the facts and let the readers make their own decisions.  Saying something is lame is not a fact, it's a characterization... and until I see the ad, it's an unfair characterization.  

Asim C., Omaha, Neb. (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:06 PM)

PETA is just another kook fringe group looking for headlines. It's pretty obvious they've succeeded.

Ty Albuquerque, NM (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:07 PM)

I'm not surprised.  PETA is managed by a gaggle of nuts.

Jay, Central, Louisiana (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:07 PM)

I support PETA! Animals are great! Especially with bbq sauce! :)

Dave (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:07 PM)

Nothing to do with peta I don't think licking a pumpkin shows good taste - especially tot he young - what will they get out of it - eat a pumpkin - I think not - portray vegetables as they are plain old good and leave the tongue in your mouth where it belongs or behind closed doors -thanks

Mary Lou - Kansas (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:07 PM)

Sorry but man was made an omnivore. God said " Do not call that which I say is clean, unclean.

Lazarus Long, Kingsport, TN (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:08 PM)

this rank up there with telling ben and jerry to make their ice cream from human brest milk instead of cows milk since it is inhumane to milk cows

jim danielson, davison, mi (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:08 PM)

PETA doesn't make me think about the plight of animals but the plight of people.
Another "lame stunt" that comes to mind is asking Hamburg, NY to change its name.
Someone should do an investigative report on PETA's success in closing down all the horse slaughter houses in the USA and the trully gross amount of suffering that's causing to horses.  PETA has always been more a part of the problem than the solution.

ken rochester, ny (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:10 PM)

I am an animal lover and believe in animal rights, but this organization is a terrorist group.  I will not support any organization, regardless of their cause, that commits terror or supports terror which PETA does.  The Animal Liberation Front, who was responsible for the bombings of the homes of university professors in California who work in the medical research labs that use animals, are affiliated and supported by PETA.  PETA supports terrorism.  Regardless of the cause, it is still terrorism.

C. Anderson, Chesapeake, Virginia (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:10 PM)

well doesnt surprise me at all when you have a bunch of brain washed idots... thats what you get....

cigar hunt dallas tx (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:11 PM)

Lord Help them!!! I love animals, but this group is over the top...

Rhonda Cromwick Las Vegas, NV. (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:11 PM)

PETA
People
Easting
Tasty
Animals

Joe Momma (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:11 PM)

You writing about this ad and posting the link almost guarantees this ad will be a success and PETA will get attention.  Apparently viral marketing isn't in your lexicon.  The stunts not so lame but we all would have been better served if you ignored it too especially if you want PETA to back off to more traditional tactics.  If I couldn't afford a Super Bowl ad I'd take a similar approach--guarantee that the ad would be rejected for some reason and then pump up the volume in a PR blitz resulting in more views, more press, more news and more mindshare than any Super Bowl ever would have netted for PETA. Let's face it the Super Bowl isn't exactly their audience.  

Chris Elicone, Acton, MA (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:12 PM)

Given PETA's past history of public disturbance, assault, arson, and worse, this type of behavior should really be of no surprise.  Get a life, PETA!

John Deere, Spokane, Wash (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:12 PM)

PETA supports a noble cause, but they take it too far.

Fisher, Salt Lake City, UT (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:12 PM)

...What is even the POINT of that kind of ad? If they're trying to be funny, that's one thing. But it's not like PETA has a sense of humor, so that still leaves things in the dark... with veggies and women in lingerie, I guess.

steak & eggs (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:12 PM)

Well, you are what you eat!

Lame bear (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:12 PM)

sex sales.  But I love meat cow, chicken it does not matter . But I love sexy woman either sway I win.

John Doe , Seattle Washington (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:13 PM)

Wow, I knew these people were kinda loony and annoying, but if they thought that commercial was ok for prime time viewing they have REALLY lost it!

DP, Springfield, MO. (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:13 PM)

but Viagra commercials and Hooters Ads are fine?? C'mon!

mel (Sent Tuesday, January 27, 2009 4:13 PM)



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