Hails & Fails – Feb 12th 2021
It’s the most romantic week of the year, with Valentine’s Day this weekend. So, let’s show some love to the iconic brands who used PR to win great headlines. It’s a week that’ll go down in history as the one when Weetabix broke the internet. There were also fantastic campaigns from Marmite, who spiced things up with a new flavour, and the BBC, who caught our attention with a powerful poster initiative. It really wasn’t a good week for Star Wars actress Gina Carano, who was axed after a badly misjudged social post…
HAILS
Weetabix breaks the internet with a single tweet
Hats off to Weetabix this week – who brought the entire internet to a shuddering halt, kick-started a hilarious online conversation with a host of other brands and had their tweet debated in Parliament. Domino’s, Nando’s, KFC…even Greater Manchester Police and the NHS couldn’t resist joining in, thanks to the fun creative tweet. Weetabix simply asked “Why should bread have all the fun, when there’s Weetabix? Serving up @HeinzUK. Beanz on bix for breakfast with a twist.” Within an hour the whole country was talking about it, the funny post going viral and winning thousands of comments, likes and shares everywhere as well as coverage in a raft of media plus a debate on breakfast TV. Bravo!
Marmite’s Dynamite launch explodes
Love it or hate it, you can’t ignore it when Marmite launches a new flavour. They won debate everywhere this week when they launched Marmite Dynamite – a tongue-burning chilli flavour.
The limited-edition Marmite Dynamite combines Marmite with chilli and is said to provide an ‘explosion of flavour’. Well it certainly got the country talking with tonnes of media coverage for the iconic brand’s new option and massive conversation online and beyond.
BBC stokes debate with controversial poster campaign
The BBC damaged its own billboards this week in an eye-catching campaign showcasing the effects of global warming.
Outdoor posters, which promoted Sir David Attenborough’s A Perfect Planet, initially showed monkeys and other wildlife. But the images were then “hijacked” to incorporate apocalyptic imagery of forest fires, water pollution and the effects of drought – using real fire and smoke thrown in for extra effect. Each ad reads “Perfect planet, but for how long?” Brilliant – and loads of attention online and from media to boot!
FAILS
Gina Carano axed from Star Wars The Mandalorian series after post about Nazis
Gina Carano has been released from filming commitments by Lucasfilm, after a hugely controversial Instagram post relating to Nazis. The actress has since deleted her post but the damage was already done, it seems – with the 38-year-old’s post coming under fire and kick-starting a social media trend with the hashtag #FireGinaCarano. The Disney+ actress, who played Cara Dune, had posted that being a Republican supporter in the United States is similar to “being Jewish during the Holocaust”. Horrendous!
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