[Apparelyzed]

Paddy Power wheelchair advert banned from TV

Bookmaker, Paddy Power, has got around its latest advert being banned from TV by simply posting it on YouTube.

The on air push was set to co-incide with the Cheltenham Festival, one of the biggest sports betting events of the year for Paddy Power, and forthcoming World Cup.

But plans were scuppered after the original script, as created by Big Al's Creative Emporium, received a thumbs down from TV advertising regulator, Clearcast.

http://www.youtube.com/v/ePxfn2FVc0w

[graphic]

I liked the ad ... didn't seem at all offensive to me and thought it portrayed us wheelers in a positive, funny way.

[Ratticis]

Apparently the only wheelchair users allowed on TV are the completly helpless feel 'sorry for me', or the 'I do everything'
No room for gimps to be portrayed as 'normal' people

[pistol_pete]

Apparelyzed, on Mar 11 2010, 12:03 AM, said:

Paddy Power wheelchair advert banned from TV

A Clearcast spokesperson said that they were concerned about the “juvenile behaviour” portrayed in an advert for a betting company and that the advert could be seen as “offensive” in the way that the men with disabilities were portrayed.

“It could be considered that they were being laughed at and at the butt of the joke rather than being in control of their situation,” she added. “We would never ban a disabled person from an advert, but they need to be portrayed in positive and feisty way, in control of their situation.”

The advert is the third in a campaign designed to demonstrate Paddy Power’s sense of fun and irreverent humour. The ads pay particular focus to Paddy Power’s industry leading Money-Back specials – where

They seemed pretty 'feisty' and totally 'in control of their situation' to me. The restauranteur was the one not in control and appeared to be the butt of the joke.
I would have thought it caused more offence to Indian curry shop owners than anyone.
Did they bother to ask a disabled person if they found it offensive? Probably not.
I hate how people think we are going to be offended at the slightest thing.

[dom]

Yes i think that was a funny ad,very refreshing to see us act like normal humans having a laugh,i did that once when i was seventeen on holiday in spain with my brother! we had virtually run out of money and were starving,thinking back it was wrong of course but at seventeen we did'nt think!!
people in w/chairs on tv are often portrayed a 'serious,thoughtful,sensitive etc which is not really the norm

[ADP-10-08-63]

grate may be me and my partner can do the same at gordon ramsy's restaurant
then let see what happen's next

This post has been edited by ADP-10-08-63: 11 March 2010 - 04:51 PM

[Karl187]

Hilarious. Can't believe they banned it.

I totally agree with Ratticus. Why can't they show people like us messing around and having a laugh?

[greybeard]

pistol_pete, on Mar 11 2010, 07:08 AM, said:

I hate how people think we are going to be offended at the slightest thing.

Yeah, well, from some of the comments in recent threads, it's fairly clear that some of our number are.

[bobm]

Just for everyone's information;
this is known, technically, as "making off"...[without payment].
Like shoplifting, its an "either way" offence; which means that defendants can elect for... a jury trial!

This, presumably, is what Clearcast are saying, regardless of the fact that successful advertising always evokes a happier, more beautiful and whimsical world than any of us has ever experienced.

I think the advert's a laugh, and that TV screening would do far more good than harm.

[dangerousdave]

Bobm
I think the advert's a laugh, and that TV screening would do far more good than harm.

Gotta agree with that

Beats my experiance where I wasn't allowed in once

[McTavish]

I don't see anything wrong with the ad, have an on line account with Paddy Power myself and he is always sending amusing messages on his site, what's wrong with a bit of humour in these depressing recession days

[Ratticis]

K, I just got a chance to actually watch it (wasn't at my computer before and couldn't watch on my phone) and I have to ask, how is that offensive? If anything I'm a little bit offended that someone would think that's offensive to anyone. And you want offensive wheelchair material, watch Just For Laughs Gags (canucks will probably know this, others probably not). Every wheelchair "gag" on that show depicts people in wheelchairs as inept, imobile, unable to do anything at all. I mean, how many of us carry around a stopsign and need someone to act as crossing guard whule crossing the street?

[Texaswheelz]

Nothing offensive about it at all. Would like to see the same commercial made with AB guys who get up and run out and see if it gets aired. Who's got an email addy we can send to Clearcast and ask WTF?

This post has been edited by Texaswheelz: 12 March 2010 - 05:09 AM

[JesseB]

wow that was great haha! and also agree with everyone, not offensive at all.

[Ratticis]

Maybe they figure the dude yelling "wheelers" is like someone yelling "nigger"?

[Karl187]

I like 'wheelers' actually. Bloody good nickname for us.