A controversial billboard over the West Side Highway advertising Wodka brand vodka was being taken down Tuesday after NBC New York’s inquiries to the company about its questionable messaging.
The billboard showed a Chihuahua dog in a Santa hat and a Russian wolfhound dog in a yarmulke. “Christmas Quality, Hanukkah Pricing,” the text read.
An NBC New York viewer emailed the newsroom about the ad, saying she was “appalled” and that she wanted what she considered the anti-Semitic ad removed.
The Anti-Defamation League weighed in on its website Tuesday after hearing about the billboard, labeling it “cruel and offensive,” and said it reinforced anti-Semitic stereotypes.
Representatives of Wodka Vodka told NBC New York the billboards were made specifically for New York City. “We were celebrating Hanukkah as a great value,” said James Dale, explaining the holiday has eight days while X-Mas has just one.
Shu D-Jong, a second company representative who met with NBC New York in the Midtown offices of its distributor, said some of the company partners are Jewish and that the ad is “consistent with previous marketing.”
The two company representatives insisted there has been no backlash until now.
Dale told NBC New York, “We don’t want to offend anyone,” and that the company was in the process of taking down the controversial vodka ads.
(Source: NBC New York)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
7 Responses
Am I the only one who thinks that though dumb and in poor taste, this billboard is harmless and not worth the ruckus?
Putting racism aside, this is just really poor advertising.
@ A Hemish Mom,
You are not the only one that thinks that way.
However when you have the ADL and the “Jewish AL Sharpton” involved..any incident like this is portrayed as the sky is falling and the goyim are about to round us all up.
Professional “anti semitisim fighters” are in the business of keeping everyone scared so their fundraising efforts will not be stymied by the fact that with a few exceptions, REAL!!! anti semitisim does not exist in the country.
By my definition, things like the Nuerenburg Laws, Kristalnacht, Aueshcwitz, Birkenau, and Arab terrorisim qualify as real antisemitism.
Some vodka company trying to make a few bucks off a joke in bad taste does not qualify.
I’m sorry but I think it’s a good chap
Great ad!
One thing that’s certain. They got their bang for the buck with the ad. They will generate more publicity in the “outcry” and having to take it down then had it remained up.
The rep says that the ad is consistent with the campaign. The other ads say Hamptons quality Newark pricing. Another one is unprintable. The common denominator is the quality is high class, while the pricing is the opposite. How can a Jew not protest such a blatant display of insensitivity or worse. Christians are taught to turn the other cheek, Jews know better.