Shock, Not Ok Please
The end of the Second World War ushered in the philosophy of the absurd, coined by the likes of Jean-Paul Sartre and Albert Camus. This in turn gave rise to the theatre of the absurd, shocking audiences with their unconventional treatment. To suggest that Poonam Pandey’s death stunt was an absurdist art would be a stretch, but the word absurd certainly describes this campaign that provoked people. As netizens wrap their heads around the event, the question of ethics looms large. Pandey, who worked in collaboration with Hauterrfly and digital agency Schbang, faced severe backlash for the shocking stunt, with critics condemning it as a shameful and disgusting act. This incident raises crucial questions about the fine line between impactful marketing and crossing ethical boundaries. But did it work? Impactful or distasteful? Ankit Agrawal, Director of Mysore Deep Perfumery House & Zed Black, emphasizes the importance of addressing sensitive topics seriously, preferably by individuals with firsthand experience for added credibility. For instance, he suggests that Yuvraj Singh’s discussion about his cancer battle and cricket comeback would have a significant impact. This is not the first time that shock value has been devalued for its apparent tastelessness. From Mahesh Bhatt sharing Manisha Koirala’s fake death news for movie promotion, Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan staging a fake split for an ad in 2008 to Burger King pulling off amazing stunts time and again globally, there are many instances where brands and influencers have resorted to shock marketing or stunt marketing. While some did create an impact, others were criticised even back then. In 2022, Vim turned black to prove a point which sparked quite the frenzy on social media. The brand rolled out an ad featuring Milind Soman, where he was seen in the gym boasting about helping his mother with the dishes. Soman’s endorsement of ‘Vim Black for men’ led to a barrage of jokes and memes. However, the stunt and the ad quickly drew criticism for promoting sexism, prompting Vim to clarify that it was meant as a joke and there was no such product. The same year, Puma’s use of Anushka Sharma’s picture without permission caused a stir initially. However, as it turned out, the usage was part of their brand ambassador announcement campaign. Experts say Greenpeace and PETA have used shock tactics for decades and have managed to succeed. The question however is whether there was a balance struck here. If one were to measure it on a beam balance, with purpose on one end and shock on the other, will purpose weigh higher? The answer lies in the extent to which the search or awareness on cervical cancer really went up once the news broke. Who funded the campaign? Post the controversy, MSD went on to publicly part ways with Schbang. In an official statement, MSD also told e4m, “MSD would like to categorically state that the recent public relations activity on cervical cancer carried out by Poonam Pandey and digital marketing agency Schbang was neither initiated with MSD’s endorsement nor made with the knowledge of MSD.” Responsible Approach “I believe consumers perceive brands much like they perceive other individuals; they scrutinize the messages they receive from them,” shares Wadhwa. “Our role, as communication experts, is to cultivate a sense of affinity or love towards the brand. However, missteps can erode that affection, making balance essential in maintaining consumer loyalty. Sometimes, the impact of these missteps is immediate, and restoring that love requires swift action,” he adds. What measures can be taken?
In a parallel narrative, HT’s Fever FM embarked on a daring prank, announcing the sudden shutdown of the popular FM channel. The move stunned listeners, only to be later revealed as a rebranding strategy. Recently, just before the Poonam Pandey and Fever FM episodes, we saw HDFC Bank roll out a stunt marketing campaign with Nora Fatehi. While these ‘pranks’ successfully generated buzz and excitement, they also raised questions about the potential backlash such tactics might incur. More importantly, what are the acceptable boundaries for marketing stunts, and when do they cross the line into distasteful or offensive territory?
In the wake of the Poonam Pandey controversy, the debate over impactful versus distasteful marketing campaigns intensifies. While some stunts enhance credibility, others risk tarnishing brand and influencer reputations, highlighting the fine line between attention-grabbing tactics and long-term credibility.
In this case, even the digital agency that came up with the campaign was quick to ‘apologise’ to those who were ‘triggered’ by the stunt. Schbang put out a statement on LinkedIn which said, “Our actions were driven by a singular mission - to elevate awareness about cervical cancer.”
According to a Lancet report published in 2022, more than 58 percent of all cervical cancer cases globally were estimated in Asia, while more than half of the deaths were estimated in Asia. 21 percent of all cases occurred in India, while 23 percent of all deaths also occurred in India. It is indeed a matter of grave concern.
While ‘Brand Poonam Pandey’ even otherwise wasn’t very high on the credibility list, this stunt seems to have done its bit to drive another nail to the influencer’s coffin, pun not intended.
Cancer campaigns in India have seen better days. In 2015, Dabur Vatika, a shampoo brand rolled out a digital commercial featuring a bald woman, with an engaging note, ‘some people don’t need hair to look beautiful,’ as an ode to people fighting cancer. That sent shock waves across the country, but in the right direction.
Citing an example of DSP Mutual Fund’s past campaign, Abhik Sanyal, Head of Marketing, DSP Mutual Fund explains how the brand used the surprise element for their campaign. “We’ve utilized similar strategies in the past, though I wouldn’t categorize it as shock marketing. One notable campaign featured a bold headline: ‘Minus 67%’. Launched around 2017 or 2018 for our DSP Small Cap Fund, it emphasized the reality of investing, urging individuals to consider the risks associated with small-cap funds. Our goal has always been to promote informed decision-making and responsible investing, prioritizing transparency and integrity.”
While the stunt marketing approach may have generated buzz, it also raised important questions about consent and ethical advertising practices. Where should one draw that subtle line between humour and sensitivity in their advertising campaigns.
Poonam Pandey in her clarification video mentioned that ‘Cervical Cancer is entirely preventable and that the key lies in the HPV vaccine and early detection tests. Both Pandey and Schbang who tied up with media company Hauterrfly for the stunt stated that the campaign was a pro-bono activity for a good cause and none of the parties were paid for their participation. This even as other theories are floating in the market on how Merck Sharp & Dohme- better known as MSD (which has been selling its cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, in India since 2008) has silently funded this campaign.
In today’s marketing landscape, brands are increasingly emphasizing a responsible approach in their campaigns. By prioritizing ethical considerations and social consciousness, they aim to strike a balance between capturing attention and maintaining integrity to set a precedent for responsible marketing practices. Let’s hear from experts about what should brands and influencers keep in mind when dealing with sensitive issues and using stunt marketing for their campaigns.
Also, it’s disheartening to see instances like the promotion of the film Pihu, where prank calls left unsuspecting individuals traumatized. Many Twitter users reported receiving distressing calls from a crying child, only to be directed to the film’s trailer upon calling back in panic. Such tactics not only exploit people’s emotions but also disregard their well-being.
Brands have been known to create quirky ad campaigns tricking their consumers in and around April Fool’s Day. Ola is one of the few brands that almost every year comes up with a prank for April Fool’s Day.
Bijoor believes that brand persona is a sort of trust. He says, “Your fans trust you. Consumers and fans hate being tricked, they hate being played with, and being fooled. Yes, you can fool consumers once a year, and that is on the first of April. You just might be excused. But not on any other day. Consumers feel tricked. The next time round, you will not be believed.”
Bijoor goes on to say, “Digital brand personas themselves will face disbelief by and large. Gimmicks that trick can give a bad reputation to brand personas, advertising and digital agencies, advertising by and large, PR, and branding and marketing. As it is, marketing and advertising people have a reputation that is best described as walking on the thin ice of credibility. Why worsen it all?”
Coming back to the case in point, Cervical cancer is often referred to as a ‘silent killer’ because it does not show any obvious symptoms in its early stages, but stunts like the one Poonam Pandey pulled off may end up as a not-so-silent killer of advertising, if the trend continues unabated.
“While marketing gimmicks can generate immediate attention, it’s essential for brands to consider the potential long-term impact on their image and credibility. Sure, some clever gimmicks can be beneficial, especially for tactical gains, but they should align with the brand’s values and long-term goals. For instance, Burger King’s Valentine’s Day campaign urging people to sit with a lonely Ronald McDonald had a positive and lasting impact without causing controversy,” highlights Gaurav Arora, Co-Founder, Social Panga.
In light of recent controversies sparked by marketing stunts, the discourse on the need for regulations in the industry has gained momentum. As brands and influencers push boundaries with attention-grabbing campaigns, questions arise about the necessity of formal guidelines to ensure ethical standards and protect against exploitation of sensitive issues.
“We do have regulatory bodies in place that try to bring sanity to all this frenzy. For influencers, there are no such lines or regulators and they can have a field day. For sensitive subjects like health and education, industry bodies should create clear guidelines and deviations should be publicly highlighted and punished,” asserts Chattopadhyay while further adding that guidelines can be set for and implemented in organised business contexts. There can be none for individuals in a truly democratic setup. “If there are too many rules and regulations, we will start protesting against curtailment of freedom of speech and expression. A regulatory body can control a fever or monster but society has to draw the lines for people like Ms. Pandey.”
In today’s social media-driven landscape, the swift propagation of negative sentiment poses significant risks for brands. Marketing campaigns that inadvertently breach legal or regulatory boundaries can lead to fines, lawsuits, and lasting damage to brand reputation. Hence, brands must meticulously evaluate the potential repercussions of their campaigns, particularly those made for instant impact.
Speaking about regulations and guidelines, Desai highlights the need for setting up a committee in such matters, “In the past when we got down to setting rules and regulations for something like this, we ended up issuing a snub order. That’s not the solution I feel. Not everyone creating a campaign on this will end up creating something insensitive. I think if in the future, something like this happens, a committee should be formed with diverse and qualified individuals hearing all sides of the story to decide the consequences of the campaign. If this format can work for world affairs, I am certain it can work for advertising too,” he explains.
In conclusion, the delicate balance between attention-grabbing marketing tactics and responsible communication needs to be maintained. While impactful campaigns can captivate audiences, crossing ethical boundaries risks damaging brand credibility.
Tags : #e4m #advertising #Brands #adcampaigns #RuchikaMalhanVarma #RanbirKapoor #MalaikaArora #PoonamPandey #cervicalcancer #HarishBijoor #SanjayTrehan #AmitWadhwa #SandeepGoyal #AalapDesai #IrajFraz #Schbang #MaheshBhatt #ManishaKoirala #MilindSoman #AnushkaSharma #HrithikRoshan