Hyundai suicide ad: Hyundai has pulled an ad that included a man who tried to commit suicide with exhaust fumes in an SUV model.
The punch line of the ad is that the Hyundai iX35 car runs on hydrogen and doesn’t produce any carbon monoxide, only water vapor. This means that a man cannot kill himself via suffocation by car exhaust, reported CNN Money.
The company issued an apology over the ad after it withdrew it. It was created by ad agency Innocean Europe, the firm said.
“Hyundai Motor deeply and sincerely apologizes for the offensive viral ad,” Hyundai said in a statement.
It added: “The ad was created by an affiliate advertising agency, Innocean Europe, without Hyundai’s request or approval. It runs counter to our values as a company and as members of the community. We are very sorry for any offense or distress the video caused. More to the point, Hyundai apologizes to those who have been personally impacted by tragedy.”
Suicide prevention officials said that pulling the ad was necessary .
“We know from research that graphic depictions of suicide in the media can inadvertently lead to further suicides, a phenomenon known as contagion,” Robert Gebbia, executive director for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, told USA Today. “This advertisement was particularly graphic and potentially dangerous. We are pleased that Hyundai has decided to pull this campaign.”
European media reported that the ad began running a week ago before it was pulled.
Others criticized the company over the ad, saying it was insensitive.
Slate.com writer Holly Brockwell wrote that her father killed himself.
“Surprisingly, when I reached the conclusion of your video, where we see that the man has in fact not died thanks to Hyundai’s clean emissions, I did not stop crying. I did not suddenly feel that my tears were justified by your amusing message. I just felt empty. And sick. And I wanted my dad,” she wrote.
