Here’s proof you can have controversy without nudity.
[Update: GoDaddy won’t run this ad after all.]
GoDaddy made a name for itself with controversial Super Bowl commercials.
If you thought its move from sexy commercials to one featuring a puppy dog meant the company was shying away from controversy, you’re in for a bit of a surprise.
This year’s commercial (embedded below) features an adorable puppy dog that gets tossed off a truck, yet perseveres and finds its way home. Yet “Buddy” is in for a rude surprise when he finds his way back to his owner.
Critics this year won’t be upset about half-nude models. Instead, the commercial will conjure up hate from pet lovers and organizations around the world.
Hey, at least it wasn’t an elephant.
What do you think?
Domainer Extraordinaire says
Some smart mofos at Godaddy. They want people talking about Godaddy. This should work without using almost naked women. I like it. Funny there are 35 thumbs down to 5 thumbs up.
Alexander Schubert says
Thanks GoDaddy for reminding the world what America’s values are.
Vickie says
I kinda wish they would just go out of business, then we wouldn’t have to put up with their lack of American values anymore… This made my heart ache!
americandotorg says
Mr. Schubert, would you please clarify your comment?
Many people are quick to take umbrage, and I think I’m not. Yet one possible reading of your remark would strike me as quite offensive. As one of roughly 330 million Americans, I’m curious what values are being imputed to me from far-off Latvia.
RaTHeaD says
they get there moneys worth. it was shown and discussed on the national morning shows today. ca-ching.
David J. Walker says
Controversial? Yes.
That is what GoDaddy does best. This time they made a commercial that hits the heart, instead of other organs.
This is what GoDaddy is best at doing, and it works.
D. Bedford says
I’m going to call them GoDoggy from now on.
Jen Klim says
WHY would you WANT to engage with a company that is proud to put this kind of message out there? I don’t think it’s funny or tongue in cheek. It’s cruel and makes my stomach turn that people think this is ok – enough so to make a commercial and promote it. Ugh, disgusted.
Digital Address says
Anything provocative–sex, heartless pet dealers, etc.–for “ratings”! There appears to be a touch of a folie de grandeur lurking about!
Alexis T says
Yes, the ad does what any advertising strives to do – get consumers talking about the ad and remembering it. In this case I think, the negative PR will be more than the positive.
JC says
This brings GoDaddy down to a whole new level of disgusting.
Joseph Peterson says
It amazes me what people are and aren’t outraged by.
AuntieBellum says
http://milldogrescue.org/
Go look at that webpage, then come back and talk about outrage.
Joseph Peterson says
Done. Gross. Irrelevant.
Must I explain to that inferences from particular to general are invalid unless supported by rigorous random sampling? If you believe that all dog breeders abuse animals in that way, fine. In that case, you will find people at any dog park to shout at.
John Berryhill says
What you will find at a dog park are people who are somewhat more knowledgeable about the topic of puppy mills, and how they differ from responsible breeders.
The ASPCA is not some radical organization or moral scold. Perhaps you might learn something from their publication, “Why You Should Never Buy A Puppy Online”
http://www.aspca.org/fight-cruelty/puppy-mills/why-you-should-never-buy-puppy-online
This is not PETA we’re talking about here.
Sand Tracks says
The commercial hits the head on the nail of the sentiment of what a puppy mill owner feels.
I think it’s disgusting, and I am an American, Joseph. I’m also sick of a lack of values on TV. I don’t think we need to go back to Leave it to Beaver, but the 1970s or 1980s would be a nice start. I miss the old days when the United States was a little more reserved.
If anyone thinks commercials of Hardees women spreading their legs and eating oversized hamburgers, or Geico’s new Salt and Pepper commercial of Push it Real Good, is okay as far as values go, then more power to you, but that is not what I want my family to see or other kids and teenagers to see.
C’mon, we can do better as a people, and if this what it takes for Go Daddy to sell domains then the agency they hired simply lacks enough talent to make a commercial good enough to rise above the sewage level mark.
Joseph Peterson says
Should I say what I honestly think, knowing in advance that I’ll be pelted with rotten vegetables from those who can’t see past their own viewpoint?
No. But I will anyway.
The ad was clever, funny, cute, and completely innocuous. Made me smile. Perhaps my sense of humor is more elastic than most; but I think plenty of people see it the same way as I do and just don’t want to stick their neck out, given all the hostility being exhaled by those who see themselves as more compassionate.
Given the number of dogs in rescue shelters, I can see an objection to pet breeding. Nevertheless, plenty of dog breeders are not only humane but animal lovers. To be sure, I know people who’ve chosen to adopt a pet from the local shelter; and that’s admirable. On the other hand, my brother bought some dogs from a breeder, and they’ve always been happy and well cared for.
I see no cause here for moral horror. Frankly, I resent the implication that I must be evil if I can watch a puppy sold to a new owner. Much as I’m tempted to think that people offended by this ad lack a sense of perspective / humor, I’ll give you all the benefit of the doubt and assume that you simply care so much about puppies that your sympathies were a bit inflamed. Every sentiment gets amplified in the echo chamber of the internet anyway.
If I can tolerate my moral superiors, maybe you can tolerate people like me who don’t see pet breeding as inherently evil and can laugh at this ad’s jarring conclusion.
The fictional puppy will be just fine. The real-world puppies are just fine too. Animal cruelty and selling puppies are not logically equivalent.
To anybody offended by this ad, I’d say: If you can’t laugh about it, at least relax. And if you can’t relax, at least tolerate your neighbors.
John Berryhill says
It is puzzling why the Humane Society specifically states that selling puppies “to unknown buyers over the Internet” is a hallmark of an irresponsible breeder.
No, there is nothing wrong with breeding dogs. But you are setting up a false dichotomy there, and do not understand the basis of the objection.
You might, however, find this enlightening:
http://www.humanesociety.org/assets/pdfs/pets/puppy_mills/find_responsible_dog_breeder.pdf
Katey says
Stop talking about them and they will hand themselves. They are getting what they want. Do use their service. When we as consumers stop supporting them they will go away.
Ula says
I’m glad they made this commercial. This way I know which company’s services I will NEVER use. Thanks guys!
Domainer Extraordinaire says
I don’t see how you determine the portrayal is a puppy mill. Looked like a nice farm to me. It’s a foregone conclusion that dog breeders sell puppies just like cattle ranchers sell their cattle only what they sell ends up being slaughtered. I could see outrage if the puppy was being sold to a family that ends up making tacos out of the puppy.
I think Godaddy thought this out thoroughly. They knew it would create debate when there really is nothing to debate. As long as Monday morning Godaddy is brought up at the water cooler, Godaddy is happy.
For the record, I don’t like Godaddy but not because of this or any of their commercials.
John Berryhill says
“I don’t see how you determine the portrayal is a puppy mill. Looked like a nice farm to me. It’s a foregone conclusion that dog breeders sell puppies just like cattle ranchers sell their cattle…”
Umm… no. Responsible dog breeders do not sell puppies the way that cattle are sold, and do not sell to people whose only qualification is having the money to pay for them. Selling a dog on a webpage and shipping it out is exemplary of how a puppy mill operates. An actual responsible breeder is going to want to know a whole lot more about who is buying a dog than “preferred method of payment.”
You might want to take a look a the brochure “How to find a responsible dog breeder” published by the Humane Society, which includes a checklist, notably including:
“Sells puppies only to people he/she has met in person,
not to pet stores or to unknown buyers over the Internet”
The sale depicted in the commercial is the definition of how a puppy mill operates.
Joseph Peterson says
John, we’re not in disagreement about how responsible dog breeders and buyers should behave. I appreciate the links to documentation, but I think common sense is enough without those check lists. Of course, responsible breeders / pet buyers would meet rather than shipping out puppies in a cardboard box full of packing peanuts.
It’s dismaying that I have to explain the concept of a joke.
TV ads are not known for their verisimilitude. TV ads with obvious humorous intent are not designed to be taken literally as instruction manuals for life.
Comedy depends on rhythm. In the case of this ad, the element of surprise requires a quick turnaround between homecoming and shipping the puppy off.
A more realistic depiction would, of course, have the buyers come and slowly tour the farm, ask questions about how the puppies have been raised, and so on. Very morally upright. Very unfunny.
Naturally, what’s actually shown is ludicrous. And it’s not the first ludicrous TV commercial.
Every viewer understands they’re watching a fictional story that ends in a punchline. Objections about puppy farms are as far-fetched as the scenario in the ad.
Jokes are made about much more controversial things, frequently by comedians who really abjure the topic their persona appears to endorse. Audiences appreciate this fictional remove from reality. Those who take such jokes at face value simply have a deficient sense of irony.
Black comedy doesn’t deserve to be banned by officious puritans. I respect anybody’s right to dislike a joke, but stoning the performer is another thing entirely.
SL says
Hang on a second, this is Godaddy we’re talking about. They truly can’t be that stupid so how about this take on how the saga unfolds:
Release the super-controversial ad days before the Superbowl using the one animal you never mess with negatively in advertising.
During the game, tell the rest of the story. A warm and cuddly one that extends to a happy ending for the pup. The calculation is simply that everyone feels embarrassed for “over-reacting” after seeing the whole story unfold.
After the game, the CEO issues the pre-scripted statement similar to “Of course it was never our intention for the puppy to be put in harm’s way, and we should have shown all of the ads during the game instead of staging them so the story was clear. That’s why I pulled the first ad but didn’t want to give away the surprise story line.”
And for five full days Godaddy’s name is front and center in the press, building up a head of steam.
Imo this would be simply brilliant advertising if they could pull it off, a clear extension beyond the simplistic T&A that Parsons’ caveman mentality relied on for years.
So that’s my guess and am fully willing to look like an anonymous idiot come Monday morning…
Domainer Extraordinaire says
A cattle rancher will sell to anyone whose only qualification is having the money to pay for them.
They don’t care who eats their cows. You’re insinuating that dog breeders should do background checks and visit the homes of dog buyers to make sure Buddy is going to an acceptable home.
That’s impractical and silly. In fact, if someone is willing to pay $200 + for a dog, that is a good enough qualification. The buyer is not going pay $200 + and then have plans for something sinister. There is nothing wrong with buying a dog on the Internet. The fictional farm dog breeders in the commercial have a bunch of pictures of their facility online that make it clear that Buddy, his mother and father are humanely taken care of. I wouldn’t mind living on that farm. 🙂
In the commercial they did cross the realm of reality. Dog breeders don’t name puppies that they are selling.
jane says
Responsible Dog Breeders actually do exactly that, going so far as to require buyers to fill out questionnaires and provide proof of residence (in some cases following up with onsite inspections depending upon the answers provided)
Buyers have paid far more than $200 and then proceeded to mistreat their animal through sheer neglect and some have been charged with animal cruelty.
Your comments that photos online equate to truth is shockingly naive it best, as is the rest of your comments.
Domainer Extraordinaire says
“Responsible Dog Breeders actually do exactly that, going so far as to require buyers to fill out questionnaires and provide proof of residence (in some cases following up with onsite inspections depending upon the answers provided)”
Maybe these dog breeders should also setup remote cameras so they can monitor the people they sell dogs to 24/7.
Digital Address says
Sedo has done a “counter-offensive” on its home page:
AT SEDO PUPPIES ARE IN THE BEST OF HANDS
just like your domains