Vodafone's new ad campaign, which shows a couple on a first date trespassing on a field and deflecting a bull attack with a video of a barking dog, has riled farmers and the HSA alike.
Vodafone is on the naughty step. Its most recent ad campaign features a couple on a date in the countryside who jump over a gate into private land. Is it encouraging trespassing? This is the first black mark against Vodafone.
Then, on being approached by a bull, the man fails to find help because he has no signal on his phone and therefore cannot search the internet for “how to calm a bull”. His date, on the other hand, manages to find a video of a barking dog on her phone, which does the trick.
Obviously Vodafone did very little research before it created this ad, with the HSA coming out to say that far from discouraging an attack, a dog can actually encourage an attack.
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“Risks from livestock, either bulls or cows, is not material for a joke,” the HSA said. “Unfortunately, just this past weekend a Co Tyrone farmer was killed by a bull. In addition to this, we would strongly advise against bringing a dog into a field with a bull as it can in fact encourage an attack.”
Vodafone has issued a statement to us saying that it is currently reviewing the campaign in light of the concerns that have been raised.
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Vodafone is on the naughty step. Its most recent ad campaign features a couple on a date in the countryside who jump over a gate into private land. Is it encouraging trespassing? This is the first black mark against Vodafone.
Then, on being approached by a bull, the man fails to find help because he has no signal on his phone and therefore cannot search the internet for “how to calm a bull”. His date, on the other hand, manages to find a video of a barking dog on her phone, which does the trick.
Obviously Vodafone did very little research before it created this ad, with the HSA coming out to say that far from discouraging an attack, a dog can actually encourage an attack.
“Risks from livestock, either bulls or cows, is not material for a joke,” the HSA said. “Unfortunately, just this past weekend a Co Tyrone farmer was killed by a bull. In addition to this, we would strongly advise against bringing a dog into a field with a bull as it can in fact encourage an attack.”
Vodafone has issued a statement to us saying that it is currently reviewing the campaign in light of the concerns that have been raised.
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