KIA Ad

[Kaylee]

Moving this to the top, so its not missed:

 

Apparently, the ad was not commissioned or approved by Kia, but was created and submitted to the contest by the ad agency with the company only becoming aware of it once it hit the media and internet.

 

 

 

Am I overreacting here? They just won a f*ing award for this ad, and it's like a pedo fantasy (and yeah, I know "schoolgirl fantasy" does not equal pedophile, but this is in the context of a conversation with a very young looking student on the left and the hair/outfit/situation on the right implies it's about her).

 

I'm calling their US PR guy tomorrow to see what is going on and if it was approved by anybody.

They yanked a question and link to the ad of facebook in under 3 minutes, so I doubt I'll get much of a reply.

[clarinetpower]

WOW. :shock:

I will never, ever buy a Kia. Ever.

*shudder*

[ladypuglover]

it comes off very much like a pedo fantasy. I feel so nasty now. Who in the hell made this any way? A pervert?

[Deleted12]

Creepy! :o

[InkyGirl]

Ah! Inappropriate much?

Holy craps!

[Cassandra]

I feel dirty.

[Kaylee]

it comes off very much like a pedo fantasy. I feel so nasty now. Who in the hell made this any way? A pervert?

An (all-male) ad team from Brazil. Hope that's not sexist, but seriously guys?

Still, who in the hell approved it and thought it was a good contest submission after seeing it?

The contact info for their (US) PR Director is:

Scott McKee, Director of KIA-USA Public Relations

c/o KIA-USA

111 Peters Canyon Road

Irvine, CA 92606

email: smckee@kiausa.com

phone: 949-468-4813

If you want to forward info to any one who might be considering a Kia or might want to contact them, feel free to link my post - http://www.mamarants.com/2011/06/kia-because-pedophile-fantasies-win.html

The first pic and info is on many sites now, but I think I'm the only one to also include to PR info and the ad agency info, as well as the second ad and I'll update with anything else I find out.

[Cassandra]

Uhmmm the second ad is 10x worse in my opinion.

Where the hell do they even run these ads?

[PennySycamore]

I was just telling my daughter about these ads. She wanted to know what the hell they had to do with cars.

[Freyacat]

These are awful!

Here is my response to the ad agency.

[Kitchen Princess]

I don't think the second one is worse because in the first frames both of the depictions are of child-like people. In the second frames, they both age similarly.

However, I think they think the pedo stuff is removed because the girl in the right side of the first one posted has suddenly become a young woman, instead of a child. I can't really agree with that.

They are probably run in porn mags, Playboy, Hustler, etc. I can't imagine it's in anything more conventional than that.

[Wolfie]

I don't think the second one is worse because in the first frames both of the depictions are of child-like people. In the second frames, they both age similarly.

However, I think they think the pedo stuff is removed because the girl in the right side of the first one posted has suddenly become a young woman, instead of a child. I can't really agree with that.

They are probably run in porn mags, Playboy, Hustler, etc. I can't imagine it's in anything more conventional than that.

Agreed, the second ad doesn't appeal to me, but it doesn't offend in the same way, what I find offensive in it is the "women are just sex symbols." The first ad is much more offensive- the teacher/student thing is not okay at all, not to mention the age difference.

[Kaylee]

In the interest of fairness, Kia just posted this via facebook:

Thank you for your comments. The advertisement in question was not produced by Kia Motors Corporation (KMC) nor Kia Motors America (KMA), but rather by a local creative agency in another region. Neither KMC nor KMA were previously aware of the existence of this ad and it does not reflect the values of the Kia brand in any way. We at Kia Motors corporate headquarters in South Korea are investigating the matter and will address with the related parties.

Apparently, the ad was not commissioned or approved by Kia, but was created and submitted to the contest by the ad agency with the company only becoming aware of it once it hit the media and internet. At least they are addressing it, and I would hate to be that ad agency come tomorrow morning.

[Shoobydoo]

Uhmmm the second ad is 10x worse in my opinion.

Where the hell do they even run these ads?

Because I am an art student and I can not help but notice these things, her eyes and hairline are completely uneven in the fourth panel.

And seriously? Impersonating a major international car manufacturer? Did they think about ANY part of this?

[Antigone]

Ick. I don't know if those ads are real, so I won't spread the word but I'll still mention it to others since I have noticed KIA using interesting tactics in their commercials, especially with using the Yo Yo Gabba doll and other toys to "sell" the car to kids and their parents. Once I saw it, I told my daughter we are not buying a KIA. she was disappointed. These ads kind of make me wonder about KIA (fake or not, it still seems to be their MO anyway).

[GenerationCedarchip]

Maybe I overreact because of all the teacher/student sex cases we've had in my state, but this ad really irks me. It makes me never want to buy a Kia.

[Austin]

It makes me never want to buy a Kia.

Ack, we only have experience with one and it is a POS. It's a Sedona minivan, and we bought it used and rather on the fly (atypical for us) as we had our Chrysler minivan's engine blow and my vehicle stolen in the same week with a family vacation looming. A friend from church was trying to unload it. We have put more money into it than any vehicle we've ever owned. Makes me sick when I think about it.

[onlyorganic]

http://www.bnet.com/blog/advertising-bu ... prize/9171

KIA is denying that they had anything to do with the ads. I think what grosses me out most is that someone gave these people an award for these disgusting pieces of trash. I love art, but the ad with the teacher shows an obvious criminal sexual deviant and the one with "sleeping beauty" is just obscene. I don't believe these ads have ever been run because I'd like to believe KIA didn't really commission them. If they were run in a US magazine already, people would have been WAYYYYY more vocal. We come from a society that sees phallic symbols in a quick shot of the Little Mermaid's castle and cries foul, so if people actually saw these in print, there would be way more noise about them. Rightfully so, though...they are sick.

[MamaJunebug]

Ew. And I totally loved the hood rat ads.

[Jessica]

Gross! :evil:

[alphaeta08]

Another "Ewwww" from me. Seriously? :?

[emmyfair]

Read the add and now I feel so gross.

[ADoyle90815]

Gross! I would also like to those who allowed that ad campaign. One thing's for sure is that I'll never get a KIA.

[Wolfie]

Gross! I would also like to those who allowed that ad campaign. One thing's for sure is that I'll never get a KIA.

Did you read far enough to see that it wasn't authorized by KIA, but an outside group who made it for a competition?

(I have no idea if kias are good or not, I've only had Toyotas, Jeeps and Mercurys)