15 Banned Ads From the Past That Still Resurface Online
These controversial ads were pulled from public view, but the internet never forgets.
- Chris Graciano
- 3 min read
Advertising history is full of moments when companies crossed the line. These 15 banned ads were once deemed too offensive, misleading, or outrageous, yet they keep resurfacing online. They remain infamous reminders of marketing gone wrong.
1. Pepsi’s Kendall Jenner Protest Ad (2017)
Ja San Miguel on Unsplash
This commercial tried to tap into social justice themes by showing Kendall Jenner calming a protest with a soda. Viewers slammed it for trivializing real activism and racial justice movements.
2. Calvin Klein’s “Heroin Chic” Campaign (1995)
Dirk Ingo Franke on Wikimedia Commons
Featuring models with blank stares and ultra-thin frames, this ad aesthetic glamorized unhealthy beauty standards. Public backlash over promoting drug culture led to a swift ban.
3. Bud Light’s “Up for Whatever” Tagline (2015)
Esperanza Doronila on Unsplash
One bottle cap message read, “The perfect beer for removing ‘no’ from your vocabulary for the night.” Critics accused the brand of promoting rape culture.
4. Dolce & Gabbana’s Gang Assault Imagery (2007)
WiNG on Wikimedia Commons
A print ad showed a woman pinned down by a male model as others looked on. Accusations of promoting sexual violence led to immediate bans in several countries.
5. Ford India’s “Bound and Gagged” Campaign (2013)
Ivan Radic on Wikimedia Commons
Cartoonish ads featured celebrities driving cars with tied-up women in the trunk, including a caricature of Paris Hilton. They were intended to highlight trunk space but were slammed for misogyny and tone-deaf humor.
6. United Colors of Benetton’s Pope and Imam Kiss (2011)
Maggie Jones on Flickr
Benetton launched a campaign showing world leaders and religious figures kissing, including one between the Pope and an Egyptian imam. The Vatican threatened legal action.
7. Nike’s “Chamber of Fear” Featuring LeBron James (2004)
HamZa NOUASRIA on Pexels
China banned this animated ad, which showed LeBron defeating kung fu fighters and a dragon. Officials claimed it insulted national culture and portrayed Chinese symbols negatively.
8. Baby Smoking Camel Ad (1940s)
Mike Mozart on Flickr
An old print ad featured a baby endorsing Camel cigarettes, claiming they were preferred by doctors. It exemplifies how relaxed past attitudes toward tobacco advertising were.
9. Mountain Dew’s “Felicia the Goat” Series (2013)
Anil Jose Xavier on Unsplash
Directed by Tyler, The Creator, this campaign was accused of being racist and trivializing violence against women. One scene featured a battered woman identifying her attacker from a police lineup that included a talking goat.
10. Skittles’ “Mother’s Milk” Commercial (2011)
Jonathan J. Castellon on Unsplash
This disturbingly suggestive ad showed a grown man nursing from his mother to taste the rainbow. It sparked disgust and disbelief online.
11. McDonald’s “Suicide” Billboard (2005)
a befendo on Unsplash
A billboard ad with the phrase “You deserve a break today” alongside a noose image appeared in New Zealand. It was deemed incredibly insensitive and was pulled almost immediately.
12. Snickers’ “Manly Men” Commercial (2007)
Joshua Fernandez on Unsplash
This Super Bowl ad showed two men accidentally kissing while eating a Snickers bar and then doing something “manly” to fix it. LGBTQ+ groups called it homophobic.
13. Playstation’s “White is Coming” Billboard (2006)
Sameli Kujala on Flickr
A Dutch ad promoting a white PSP featured a white woman gripping a Black woman’s face with the slogan “White is coming.” The racial undertones drew immediate condemnation.
14. Burger King’s “Blowjob” Print Ad (2009)
Ismail Hadine on Unsplash
A Singaporean ad showed a woman with an open mouth facing a large sandwich, alongside suggestive text. Critics blasted it for blatant sexual innuendos.
15. Protein World’s “Beach Body Ready” Posters (2015)
S Martin on Flickr
These UK ads featured a slim model and the tagline “Are you beach body ready?” sparking accusations of body shaming. The backlash led to protests, vandalism, and eventual removal.