An Controversy has surrounded Apple's audiovisual advertising for the iPhone 14 launchSome misinterpreted the lyrics of the background music of the piece and He was questioned for being apparently offensive.After a few days, they decided to make the corrections, although they did not issue any official statement.
The company has also been in the news in recent hours because of a post by Elon Musk on his Twitter profile, in which he wrote that Apple decided to withdraw its ads from the social network. Furthermore, it has been reported that production of the iPhone 14 model is four weeks behind schedule. However, fans are unconcerned by these rumors and are awaiting the expected release dates.
Apple will have to change the voice in its iPhone 14 ad
The controversy surrounding the song used to promote the iPhone 14 was sparked by YouTubers IShowSpeed during a YouTube livestream, in which he also wrote a message alluding to the brand. Another YouTuber, xQc, ironically said he was nervous and assured viewers that there was still more content to come. The company took no immediate action or issued any comments until this week.
Apple removes vocals from iPhone 14 launch ad after lyrics were confused for racial slur https://t.co/H11tPgazPl by @bzamayo
- 9to5Mac (@ 9to5mac) November 28, 2022
The novelty is that They decided to remove the lyrics from the song. Produced and sung by British actor Idris Elba, the song's title is "Biggest," a phrase repeated to indicate that the new iPhone has a larger 6.7-inch screen. However, internet users perceived it as a blatant racial slur. Apparently, they didn't fully understand the lyrics.
Therefore, now you can only hear the music while the smartphone images advance. The update comes almost two months after the material was uploaded to YouTube. While the issue hasn't been fixed on the company's streaming service in some countries, there's no statement accompanying this drastic change.
Other segments of the song sung by DJ and producer Elba, The following text, translated into English, reads: “The biggest bounce of the summer. The man will keep going towards the dawn. Oh, my girl, what are you saying? The man will hit the skins like a drummer.” It lasts 1 minute and 25 seconds. At the beginning, people with iPhones are shown in close-up, and then the main features are broken down.
Other ads that have been modified for being potentially offensive
There are many advertisements that users have described as abusive and harmful due to their subliminal messages. The companies involved always clarify and explain their true reasons, but In most cases, they have to make adjustments to the content to avoid affecting any particular trend, race, or nationality. Below you will find several that have been very controversial.
First, it is Nike's anti-racism commercialThe campaign, which was released in 2018 and featured Colin Kaepernick, the American football player involved in a protest during one of his games, sparked outrage among many consumers. Videos of people burning some of the clothing went viral on social media, causing the company's stock to plummet.
Secondly, there is the "Live for Now" campaign launched in 2017 by Pepsi Cola. The video features model Kendall Jenner, who, during a protest, offers a can of soda to a police officer. The backlash on social media was so intense that the brand removed the video from its YouTube channel. They explained that their aim was to convey a message of tolerance and peace, without intending to downplay the seriousness of the issue. Some suggested the scene was a reference to the incident involving protester Ieshia Evans, who had a heated exchange with several officers during a demonstration.
5. And how could we forget about the moment Kendall Jenner ended racism with a can of Pepsi? The 2017 'Live for Now' campaign was by no means 'Live for Long', when the world pointed out that a sugary drink may not be the answer to the longstanding social issue. pic.twitter.com/N4eygiKEiO
— saintnicks (@wearesaintnicks) October 20, 2022
The following commercial was produced for the brand Dolce & Gabbana and the original intention was to showcase China within the framework of a fashion event which was to take place in Shanghai. The model attempted to eat Italian pasta using chopsticks, to suggest that knives and forks are not used in Italy. After the controversy, the shoot had to be canceled, and the creators issued an apology. It was considered offensive and demonstrated ignorance of true Asian culture. The model received various threats on her social media accounts.
And finally, there is another advertisement that caused a lot of annoyance during the lockdown era. It was created by a London restaurant and the campaign was called The Ivy AsiaThe intention was to blame people of Asian descent for the spread of the disease, implying a form of discrimination. The commercial had to be removed from social media, and the owners later apologized for producing inappropriate and insensitive material.
In that same context, There are dozens of controversial and irrational commercials. The impact of multinational brands is greater due to their reach and their affinity with consumers. In many cases, the creators' intention is to change mindsets and influence society, but the reactions are the opposite. In these circumstances, everyone learns from their mistakes the hard way, bearing the consequences of their actions.
