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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsCompany forced to re-tool Super Bowl ad rejected for depicting Trumps border wall
** Was there a wall or a barbed wire fence? All I saw was the giant door, sure looked wall-like.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2017/02/04/company-re-tools-rejected-super-bowl-ad-but-you-can-still-see-the-original/?tid=sm_tw&utm_term=.9a699a45f8ca
Perhaps more than any other time in history, politics appears to be playing a larger role than ever in the Super Bowl. Bill OReilly is set to interview President Trump in an interview that will air before the game; former president George H.W. Bush and his wife, Barbara, will do the coin toss; Lady Gaga may or may not deliver a political message in her halftime performance; and some of the ads will tackle controversial social issues such as immigration.
One such ad was imagined by the family-owned company 84 Lumber, which decided to tackle the subject in its first Super Bowl ad. It wont be exactly how the company originally planned it, however.
In the ads initial iteration, a Mexican mother and daughter, who appear to be on their way to the United States, come across a depiction of an imposing border wall, reminiscent of the one Trump has touted will eventually divide the country from Mexico.
Ignoring the border wall and the conversation around immigration thats taking place in the media and at every kitchen table in America just didnt seem right, said Rob Shapiro, the chief client officer at Brunner, the agency that worked with 84 Lumber to come up with the ad. If everyone else is trying to avoid controversy, isnt that the time when brands should take a stand for what they believe in?
But while 84 Lumber believed in its message, Fox, which will air the game on Sunday, thought it was a little too controversial.
Fox would not let us air the wall, Schapiro said.
Of course we were disappointed, added Amy Smiley, 84 Lumbers director of marketing. But ultimately, its their network and their decision.
[Super Bowl 2017: Latest news, commercials, halftime show info, betting guide and more]
Smiley said Fox expressed concerns about some of the elements in the initial spot and so when the network ultimately rejected the ad last month, she understood their reasons.
Smiley said current events played a role in the ads rejection, especially all the talk about Trumps proposed wall.
[T]he conversation in the media exploded around this topic, and it evolved into something controversial that made Fox a little too uncomfortable, she said.
Fox did not immediately return The Posts request to comment.
Ultimately, 84 Lumber and Brunner came up with an edit that Fox finally approved and will air on Sunday. Gone is the wall, replaced by a less imposing barbed-wire fence at what appears to be the border.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,691 posts)flamingdem
(39,313 posts)So they aired the original?
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,691 posts)The second half, with the wall (posted above), was posted on Youtube and on 84 Lumber's web site. There is also a link to the second half on the first part, but it apparently crashed their web site.
phylny
(8,380 posts)I've been trying unsuccessfully to watch it on their site.
I have a family I work with who traveled that way from a remote area in Mexico. Hardest working people I know.
Horse with no Name
(33,956 posts)This is bullshit.
Of course nothing will be done about it...
yardwork
(61,608 posts)tavernier
(12,388 posts)Yes.
Freedomofspeech
(4,224 posts)Right here in Southwestern PA...Hillbilly hell. They have a lot of balls since their headquarters are here in Trump lover central.
flygal
(3,231 posts)I hope there are too many people watching it right now
gratuitous
(82,849 posts)Isn't that sweet? Fox didn't want Donald Trump to have to think about his cruel policies while watching the big game.
yardwork
(61,608 posts)joshcryer
(62,270 posts)It shows that those who want to come to America persevere, it illustrates the "American experience" extremely well.