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There’s good advertising that makes you convinced you can’t live without the product or service. Then, there's excellent advertising that proves it’s a form of art, just like these mind-bending and clever billboard ads.

And then, you've got hilariously bad advertising. When you see one, you know it. Whether it’s product placing that has gone wrong, a slogan that sounds way off, or an overall design that gives people second and third thoughts, these are the ad fails worthy of the prize.

So let’s buckle up for a fun ride which is basically a masterclass on how not to “create and produce an ad,” as compiled in this list by Bored Panda. Take notes, kids, it’s about to get heavy.

#1

This Ad For Graduation Photography

This Ad For Graduation Photography

box_cardinal_peanut Report

#2

I Pass This Billboard Everyday And Everyday I Think He’s A Vampire

I Pass This Billboard Everyday And Everyday I Think He’s A Vampire

fitygrands Report

There are so many ways an advertising campaign, a billboard, a print ad, and a commercial can go wrong. But one of the greatest faux pas is “false advertising.” The term refers to ads that use misleading, dishonest, and plain “false” assumptions in their content in order to promote or market products and services.

One should remember to respect the consumers who, as a result of the ad, may feel lied to and fooled. Such negative ads rapidly create a very bad image of a brand, and it can lead to various biases about it.

As a result, sales immediately suffer and it takes ages to gain back consumers’ trust in the brand. Thus, false advertising is one of the most dangerous mistakes you can make while advertising your product and it never, ever pays off.

#3

This Ad Placement

This Ad Placement

vadge Report

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Luisa Vasconcelos
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This looks like my phone, everything I even think about something, out of nothing come all the advertising.

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#4

I Used To Be Able To See The Towel On Her Head

I Used To Be Able To See The Towel On Her Head

mikaelstein Report

Another form of unethical advertising is ads that employ misrepresentation of a product or a service in a way that use a subliminal message to fit the brand's hidden agenda. These kinds of ads often use deception and manipulation to make consumers want their product or service and believe they can't live without it.

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For example, Reebok launched an infamous “Cheat On Your Girlfriend, Not Your Workout” ad campaign back to 2012 and received immediate backlash. Initially, the ad was intended to motivate consumers, but in turn, it spread the wrong message and encouraged infidelity.

#6

I Think She Should Go To The Hospital Instead Of Booking A Flight

I Think She Should Go To The Hospital Instead Of Booking A Flight

MariaDmnd Report

The sportswear brand acknowledged the ad was offensive and pulled it, as many consumers were boycotting the brand. They wrote an open letter that stated: “This form of advertising shows a dishonest and disrespectful attitude towards women and your company should be ashamed to have even placed this ad in various places thinking it would be perceived in any other way.”

Moreover, the Federal Trade Commission deemed the campaign false advertising in its unsubstantiated claims about exercise benefits, and Reebok was made to pay a $25 million fine.

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#9

A Bag Of Apples With A Character On It That Got Poisoned By An Apple

A Bag Of Apples With A Character On It That Got Poisoned By An Apple

Red_Rolo09 Report

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chris-c-bowles avatar
general kenøbi
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just wondering —does anyone know what language this is/ what country it’s in?

chi-weishen avatar
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Letty Scheld
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I buy these every week at the Dutch Aldi. Delicious are they and not poisoned :-)

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Daniel Marsh
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Delicious are they? From Yoda learn English did you? (I don't mean to make fun of one tiny error in your English. I just like Yoda.)

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kidslearnfromkids channel
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are people who say German getting downvoted? Is it because they are incorrect?

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Cathelijne Van
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes and because Dutch is always confused with German and some Dutchies get irritated by this

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Samantha Robinson
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Next we're going to see Princess Aurora advertising the latest Spindle design.

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Bettye McKee
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So many comments about the language and none about why Snow White is not a good spokesprincess for apples.

jesselake avatar
Jesse Lake
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There's an orchard near where I live called "Snow White Orchards". My wife thought it was clever. Me: "Clever? Clever how?" Her: "Because Snow White ate an apple." Me: "Snow White ... ate a *poisoned* apple." Her: "Oh yeah. That's messed up."

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Cybele Spanjaard
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Someone never saw Disney or read fairy tales.. yikes, some children would refuse to eat these apples or expect to wake up as princess

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Rannveig Ess
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was more wondering why she has rolled up newspapers for legs...

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Janned
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol, I get these apples all the time and this never crossed my mind. Now I guess I won't be able to unsee it..

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Nienke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I am from South Africa and speak Afrikaans. All the words are exactly the same as my language.....

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BiColi Erasmus
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually not. "Appeltjes" would have been spelled "Appeltjies" if it was Afrikaans.

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Shireen Maher
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

u know ur apples are good when they've got snow white's seal of approval

catetorrey avatar
The funny one
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

OMG I KNOW WHAT THE BOTTOM SAYS " yummy juicy little apples" wow that was hard. Btw its ducth

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bookshellf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

well I mean, it does look good. Anything that has Disney princess on it is 5x better. When I was a kid I liked strawberry-flavor milk and the carton had a Cinderella. I felt special! Lol

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Pored Banda
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Look for it in your local grocery store isle between the Cinderella charcoal and Ariel yoga pants.

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Znaya
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Maybe they are looking at it from a psychological viewpoint 😀

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sanne van Dorst
Community Member
3 years ago

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A.J Milne
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For anyone who's wondering: "Kiddies apples. Delicious juicy small apples!

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SoozeeQ
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Forget all the arguments about which language it is. What kind of marketing department "guru" decided that this would be a good idea?

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Christy Kindness
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Poison apples... The kinder way to go" that's an ad campaign with legs

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Peppermint Psaki
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing tops the strangeness of KFC choosing foghorn leghorn (the ROOSTER from Looney Toons) to sell FRIED CHICKEN! WITAF were they thinking?!? 🤨

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Marissa Wolff
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought that was just a Family Guy joke, but I just looked it up and....yeah, you're right. Foghorn DID actually advertise KFC. That WAS a messed up thing KFC did.

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Dorothea Ott
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do so many people think that cursive is a foreign language? 🤔

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Marissa Wolff
Community Member
11 months ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Whoever is saying that is probably some r******d person who dropped out of elementary school during the first grade.

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Kimberly Potts
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Lol I was thinking..maybe they mean "kinder" apples then the one Snow-white ate. 🤣

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Sudie Faulkner
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's Dutch... The translation on the bag is "Children's apples nice juicy small apples"

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Patricia Jhagranie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This was in 2020 from the supermarket Aldi. They had a Disney theme so a variety of healthy products with a Disney figure on it to stimulate childeren to eat healthier. The Aldi is a German Discount supermarket over here in The Netherlands. And the language is just Dutch. Every supermarket sells kinder appels 🍎

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S2F Fitness
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For a solid, good nite's rest, feed your kids Snow White kinder appeltjes!

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S2F Fitness
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Couldn't have found a better spokesperson or mascot for the product... Eat your apples like me kids so you can ditch the duds and meet a prince

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Micaela Morrigan
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well, now that the poisoned one is gone we can enjoy the good ones, right?

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Bernadette Circle
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do they sell kid’s sized apples in the States? I don’t think so

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Daniel Cadman
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would say South Africa, sappige kleine appels (juicy small apples). Never seen this brand though, granted can't afford the expensive stuff.

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Johan Barnhoorn
Community Member
3 years ago

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Jo Johannsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At first I thought German but then maybe Flemish or Dutch? Just guessing.

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YellowOchre
Community Member
3 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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Grace
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only ting German about it is the first word. The whole thing is Dutch.

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Another controversial ad example that made a tremendous negative impact on brand image was the series of ads by Protein World released 5 years ago in London Underground. One of its posters asking "Are you beach body ready?" caused public outrage and even sparked vigilante acts of vandalism.

There were 378 official complaints regarding the body-shaming campaign filed to the UK's Advertising Standards Authority. Moreover, a petition to have the ads removed was launched, and demonstrations followed.

#13

I’m Certain They Could Have Used A Better Slogan

I’m Certain They Could Have Used A Better Slogan

BeaulaGoo Report

#15

If You’re Going To Use The Dumbbell As An “I” Then You Don’t Need Another “I”

If You’re Going To Use The Dumbbell As An “I” Then You Don’t Need Another “I”

BassAckwards31 Report

In 2017, Dove released an ad clip on Facebook for Dove body wash where a black woman was pictured removing her top and morphing into a white woman after she used the product. Such portrayal was not only horrendously racist, it promoted “whitewashing” and sparked a well-deserved outrage.

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Coming from a powerhouse like Dove, which, according to their slogan, champions "real beauty," the ad seriously damaged the brand's reputation.

#16

I Followed This Bus For 4 Blocks To Wait For It To Pull Over To Share This Beautiful Work Of Art

I Followed This Bus For 4 Blocks To Wait For It To Pull Over To Share This Beautiful Work Of Art

Germantoast33 Report

#17

Finally, A Shower That Works With My Broken Neck

Finally, A Shower That Works With My Broken Neck

dinglehump Report

#19

The Implication That This Tooth Has Genitals

The Implication That This Tooth Has Genitals

Dylflon Report

#20

Sometimes The Answer Is In The Box Too

Sometimes The Answer Is In The Box Too

lukeglenn Report

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Chris Hardtke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Do you really need to cheat by going outside the grid AFTER you took 6 turns to your opponent’s 3?

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According to the Online Marketing Institute, “bad commercials often try for a quality that the good ones have, and fall short of the mark, or else lack it completely.” And one of the worst things you can do as a brand building an ad campaign is treating your customers like fools, which “means talking down to them and trivializing their values, beliefs, or experiences.”

#22

The Brazilian Vaccination Mascot Looks Like KKK

The Brazilian Vaccination Mascot Looks Like KKK

alan04eu Report

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chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though it looks creepy you have to take into account that there is no KKK in Brazil and most Brazilians wouldn't think about KKK.

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#23

I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

I Only Saw The Left Window At First And Got Very Confused

generationfire Report

#24

Let God Arse

Let God Arse

KenNCM Report

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Shazz Winchester
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

took me a minute to figure out the sword is meant to be an 'I' and it's Thursday, not even a Monday #PrayForMe

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In reality, consumers are humans and a good ad needs a human touch to it to be convincing, appealing, and interesting. Sometimes, though, brands decide to take a shortcut into consumers' hearts by manipulating their feelings, which in turn results in lazy, tone-deaf, and appalling advertising disasters.

#27

We Cut Kids

We Cut Kids

aTerrariaExpert Report

#28

The Quotation Marks On This Sign Gives It A Malevolent Undertone

The Quotation Marks On This Sign Gives It A Malevolent Undertone

sleightlymagical Report

#29

This Guy's Frog Legs Featured In An Ad

This Guy's Frog Legs Featured In An Ad

MeerK4T Report

Creating a good ad is somewhat of a form of art, and although mistakes happen even to the best of us, some are forgivable, and others, not so much. In the end, the sales and brand perception tell it all.

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#30

Saw This Ad For A Shirt That’s Supposed To Say Saturday

Saw This Ad For A Shirt That’s Supposed To Say Saturday

virginmary93 Report

#31

"Hide The Pain Harold" Becomes Face Of French Coronavirus "Thank You, Heroes" Campaign

"Hide The Pain Harold" Becomes Face Of French Coronavirus "Thank You, Heroes" Campaign

jeancafecreme Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#33

Finally A Realistic Mannequins In Women's Lingerie Store

Finally A Realistic Mannequins In Women's Lingerie Store

B_Monster Report

#34

This Monstrosity

This Monstrosity

Hantook Report

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Full Name
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Left - right, up - down, backwards, in no direction does this make sense.

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#39

This Ebay Advertisement For A Sleep Mask Photo Shopped Out Her Nose And Left One Nostril

This Ebay Advertisement For A Sleep Mask Photo Shopped Out Her Nose And Left One Nostril

rosalina888 Report

#40

This Really Odd Advertisement For Transit Around My City (Where Did The Bus Driver Come From?)

This Really Odd Advertisement For Transit Around My City (Where Did The Bus Driver Come From?)

LoveGhostDotEXE Report

#42

Yes, The Earth

Yes, The Earth

boring_space_waffle Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#43

That’s A Pokemon In The Bag

That’s A Pokemon In The Bag

ungori11 Report

#44

This Library Poster

This Library Poster

holzdnbein Report

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Laura Mende
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Looking at these ads, i'm sure they're smoking something. Maybe a clichee but a true one. 😂😂

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#47

Enjoy A Nice Massage In A Moving Car With Your Eyes Closed

Enjoy A Nice Massage In A Moving Car With Your Eyes Closed

colorfl0 Report

#48

Probably It's More Convenient This Way

Probably It's More Convenient This Way

Bobik42 Report

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Sum Guy
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is what happens when you get a model who has never seen sugar do your ad

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#50

Me And My Clones On The Job

Me And My Clones On The Job

doctor_blob Report

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Thijs L.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

tbh, with the slogan it does make sense, the slogan says, 1 contact, 1 team, ie. you speak to one person and via them you contact the entire team

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Note: this post originally had 87 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.