15 Commercials That Only Aired Once Before Being Pulled

These controversial or poorly received ads were yanked after a single public airing, never to return.

Alyana Aguja
June 24, 2025
4 min read

15 Commercials That Only Aired Once Before Being Pulled — Bruna Araujo from Unsplash

Commercials are designed to capture attention, but sometimes, they provoke outrage instead. From tone-deaf humor to disturbing imagery or accidental insensitivity, these 15 ads were pulled after airing only once due to public backlash or poor judgment. They serve as reminders that a few seconds on screen can leave a lasting (and sometimes damaging) impression.

1. Pepsi – Madonna’s “Like a Prayer” (1989)

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Pepsi dropped millions on a Madonna ad tied to her then-new single “Like a Prayer.” The commercial itself was tame, but after the actual music video featured burning crosses and stigmata, Pepsi pulled the ad amid religious backlash. It only aired once, despite no controversy in the ad itself.

2. Chevy Tahoe – User-Generated Ads (2006)

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Chevrolet ran a campaign letting users create their own Tahoe ads online. Unfortunately, many took the opportunity to criticize the SUV’s environmental impact and gas consumption. Some of the more scathing user-generated ads made it on air before Chevy yanked the campaign.

3. Just for Feet – Super Bowl Ad (1999)

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This ad showed a group of white men hunting down a barefoot Kenyan runner and forcing shoes on him. The racial overtones drew immediate outrage. It aired during the Super Bowl and was never shown again.

4. Snickers – “Mr. T” Speed Walker Ad (2008)

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Mr. T storms onto a scene and yells at a speed walker to “get some nuts” while firing a Snickers cannon. It was meant to be humorous, but many saw it as homophobic. Snickers pulled it after just one airing in the UK.

5. General Motors – Robot Suicide Ad (2007)

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GM ran a Super Bowl spot where a despondent assembly-line robot imagines throwing itself off a bridge after losing its job. Mental health advocates slammed the ad for making light of suicide. GM quietly retired it after airing it only once.

6. Nike – “I Am Not a Role Model” (1993)

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Starring Charles Barkley, this controversial ad claimed athletes shouldn’t be seen as role models. Its bold tone offended parents and educators, prompting Nike to pull it quickly. While Barkley stood by it, the commercial’s broadcast life was brief.

7. Microsoft – Windows 95 Ad Featuring a Seizure (1995)

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In an attempt to be edgy, Microsoft included a fast, flashing sequence that triggered epileptic seizures in some viewers. Complaints came in almost immediately. The company apologized and removed the ad after just one airing.

8. KFC – “Pocket It” (2005)

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This UK commercial showed a man stuffing a massive chicken sandwich into his pocket, with grease seeping through his pants. Audiences found it gross and off-putting. It was pulled after airing just once on British television.

9. Calvin Klein – “Basement Casting Call” (1995)

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Shot like a creepy home video, this ad showed teenagers being interviewed in a dingy basement. It sparked outrage for resembling child exploitation. The FBI even got involved, and Calvin Klein pulled it after one airing.

10. Groupon – Tibet Super Bowl Ad (2011)

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This ad used Tibet’s political struggles as a punchline to promote discounts at a Tibetan restaurant. Viewers were stunned at the tastelessness. Groupon apologized and never aired it again.

11. Audi – “Green Police” (2010)

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Audi’s Super Bowl ad imagined a world where “eco enforcers” arrested people for not recycling or using plastic. While meant to be tongue-in-cheek, many thought it was authoritarian and tone-deaf. It never aired again after the big game.

12. Heineken – “Sometimes, Lighter is Better” (2018)

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This ad showed a beer sliding past dark-skinned people before landing in front of a lighter-skinned woman, ending with the slogan “Sometimes, lighter is better.” It was criticized for racial insensitivity. Heineken quickly pulled it and apologized.

13. PlayStation – Creepy Baby Ad (2006)

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To launch the PS3, Sony aired an ad featuring a lifeless baby doll that laughed and cried in a white room. It was surreal and disturbing to many viewers. Sony cut it after a single TV appearance.

14. Burger King – “Herb the Nerd” Reveal (1985)

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Burger King hyped up a character named Herb for months, but when they finally revealed him in a Super Bowl ad, audiences were confused and underwhelmed. The backlash was swift. The ad — and Herb — disappeared just as fast.

15. Axe – “Mom’s Discovery” Ad (2012)

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In this ad, a mother discovers an empty bottle of Axe under her son’s bed and reacts with a bizarre, almost erotic daydream. It made many viewers uncomfortable, especially parents. Axe pulled it immediately after airing once in Australia.