Hails & Fails – October 14th 2022
In a week marked by more u-turns than a DVLA test centre, it’s been good to see that creative PR campaigns have been consistently single-minded.
McDonald’s put ‘Fry Theft’ on the national agenda, England Football Team captain Harry Kane became a CBeebies narrator and British video game company Construct pixelated PM Liz Truss. It was not a great week for Rock City nightclub in Nottingham though, after a planned student night caused outrage with its serial killer theme.
HAILS
McDonald’s gives away free fries to combat ‘Fry Theft’
The fast-food giant offered free fries UK-wide after new research revealed that 39million Brits are a victim of “fry theft”.
In response to their study, the burger chain offered victims of Fry theft (that despicable act when someone steals a fry or more from your stash) the chance to claim back any stolen chips…free of charge.
A spokesperson at McDonald’s said: “We’re pleased to be able to dish out the compensation victims deserve – justice and Fries are finally being served for the worst criminal acts.”
Brilliant – and tonnes of coverage to boot.
CBeebies hires Harry as a storyteller
England football captain Harry Kane has narrated a tale about finding your inner lion as part of a CBeebies bedtime story event for World Mental Health Day.
He appeared on Monday’s BBC children’s TV programme to narrate The Lion Inside, by Rachel Bright – the story of shy mouse who sets out on a journey to find his roar.
The BBC said the broadcast is about themes of “friendship, confidence and self-esteem” and Kane joins a long list of celebrities to have read a CBeebies bedtime story, including include actors Tom Hardy and Chris Hemsworth, Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl, singer Harry Styles and Strictly Come Dancing winner Rose Ayling-Ellis.
Liz Truss goes 8-bit in new satirical video game
British video game company Construct has created a satirical 8-bit video game that sees Prime Minister Liz Truss collect coins from Brits to hand over to the City of London.
Players can adopt the avatar of the PM as they battle opponents such as Keir Starmer, Michael Gove, regional BBC journalists and bank of England Governor, Andrew Bailey. Liz only has three lives before it’s game over.
Tom Gullen, Co-Founder at Construct said: “We provide a platform for users to make video games for educational, recreational, and business purposes. In Liz We Trust was conceived and developed in three working days at a cost of just £750, which is even less these days than it was before the mini-budget”.
FAILS
Nightclub promotes serial killer Halloween night with photos of Rose West and Jeffrey Dahmer
A Nottingham university nightclub caused outrage after its serial killer-themed Halloween party was promoted with pictures of Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy.
Posters for the Crisis event, which was to be held at Rock City nightclub in Nottingham, were swiftly deleted after University of Nottingham students labelled it ‘tone-deaf’.
The initial promotional poster had mugshots of infamous killers Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Rose West, John Wayne Gacy and Richard Ramirez, and was uploaded on the club’s Instagram page on Friday night – and attracted a swift backlash.
A Crisis spokesperson confirmed the party will still go ahead on October 31st as scheduled, however it will now be a generic Halloween theme.
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