The internet domain site GoDaddy.com pulled their commercial from being aired during the Super Bowl, according to CNN news.
The commercial stars a Golden Retriever puppy. The puppy falls out of a truck and travels a long distance, and through a rain storm, to get back home. Once the dog arrives, the owner rejoices because they had sold it online through their GoDaddy website.
People who opposed the ad vented on Twitter and even started a page on Change.org, which received over 40,000 signatures.
Among the outraged is Jane Boursaw, editor in chief of news website The Reel Life With Jane. She believed the commercial was a bad idea and that GoDaddy does not get what works when it comes to commercials.
“What it looked like to the rest of us was they were encouraging private breeding and puppy mills and also that they were encouraging people to buy puppies online, which is a bad idea,” said Boursaw.
People saw the ad as an insensitive joke about puppy mills, a breeding operation notorious for their neglect of the animals. Others saw the ad as entertainment. Columnist Issac Bailey thought the commercial had a comical twist. Bailey writes for Myrtle Beach Online, a news site from the Sun News.
“This wasn’t actually about the puppy getting hurt or maimed or anything like that, it was actuall a quick, cute, short story,” said Bailey.
Bailey feels the ad fit well with the Super Bowl legacy. GoDaddy has a history with posting controversial commercials that still aired during the game.
Although Godaddy pulled the puppy commercial, they will still air a commercial during the super Bowl. GoDaddy CEO Blake Irving posted a statement on their website in response to the public outcry.
“You will still see us in the Big Game this year,” said Irving. “We hope it makes you laugh.”
See the published article here