It’s one thing for a spoof ad or a renegade ad to get published online but to have the same appear, twice, no less, in a print publication and then, as marketer, disavow any knowledge of how the ad was created doesn’t quite add up. Boeing, which created the ad with Bell Helicopter, has apologized for an ad which shows its combination airplane/helicopter V-22 Osprey delivering troops atop a mosque in a simulated battle scene. Needless to say, Islamic groups were not overjoyed to see the ad. Apparently, a month ago, the ad first appeared in the National Journal followed by complaints which Boeing reacted to informing the publication not to run the ad again but, oddly, it appeared in the magazine again last week. National Journal admitted it’s error in a statement. It would seem traffic manager is going to get the boot and a renegade Boeing marketer is gleefully celebrating a marketing coup.
