18 Commercials from the ’80s That Would Never Air Today
These 18 commercials from the 1980s would likely be banned today because of outdated messages, stereotypes, and insensitive content.
- Sophia Zapanta
- 6 min read
The 1980s were a bold era for advertising, often pushing boundaries that wouldn’t be acceptable now. Many commercials from that time reflect harmful stereotypes, exaggerated gender roles, or make light of serious issues. Looking back, they show how much society and advertising standards have changed.
1. Joe Camel Cigarette Ads
Camel Cigarettes on Wikimedia Commons
Joe Camel was used to sell cigarettes by making smoking look cool and fun. The cartoon camel was designed in a way that appealed to children, even though the product was meant for adults. These ads faced strong criticism for targeting kids indirectly. They were eventually pulled, but today, such a campaign would be banned immediately.
2. McDonald’s “You Deserve a Break Today”
Joel Dinda on Wikimedia Commons
This ad showed busy women, mostly mothers, being told to take a break by going to McDonald’s. It placed fast food as the solution to household stress, ignoring healthier or more practical choices. The message leaned heavily on traditional gender roles. Today, it would likely be seen as dismissive and outdated.
3. Pepsi’s Michael Jackson Commercial
Dr. Partha Sarathi Sahana on Wikimedia Commons
Pepsi teamed up with Michael Jackson in a flashy, high-energy commercial. During filming, Jackson’s hair caught fire due to a pyrotechnics mishap. While the commercial was a hit, the incident raised concerns about safety and exploitation. Today, such risks and marketing choices would face major public backlash.
4. Folgers Coffee Wife Ad
JA Folger Co. on Wikimedia Commons
A husband in this ad tells his wife her coffee isn’t good enough and praises his mother’s instead. The wife is shown improving her coffee just to win his approval. It presents a sexist idea that women should cater to their husbands’ tastes. This kind of message would not be tolerated in modern advertising.
5. Jell-O Pudding with Bill Cosby
National Science Foundation on Wikimedia Commons
These ads featured Bill Cosby promoting Jell-O as a fun and wholesome treat. At the time, he was seen as a trusted public figure. But later criminal charges against him changed how these ads are viewed. No brand would use a spokesperson with that history today.
6. Toys with Real Guns Sounds
Gpkp on Wikimedia Commons
Many toy ads in the ’80s featured toy guns that looked and sounded real. Some even mimicked military weapons and encouraged aggressive play. These were marketed to young children without any safety message. Today, concerns over gun violence would make such ads highly controversial.
7. Diet Candy for Weight Loss
Nesster on Wikimedia Commons
There were ads for candy that claimed to help women lose weight. They promoted the idea that eating less was the key to beauty. These ads pushed unhealthy body standards and targeted women with shame-based messaging. Today, this kind of product and message would be seen as harmful.
8. Head & Shoulders “Date Ready” Commercial
Yasmine Ag on Wikimedia Commons
This ad showed a man using shampoo to get rid of dandruff before a date. The message was that no one would date you unless your hair was perfectly clean. It used shame to sell a product, especially around appearance. Such tactics are now widely criticized in modern ads.
9. Hardee’s “Bigger is Better” Burger Ads
JJBers on Wikimedia Commons
These commercials showed people eating giant burgers while mocking those with smaller meals. The tone was aggressive and promoted overeating as something to be proud of. It encouraged viewers to shame others for making healthier choices. This messaging wouldn’t be accepted today due to health concerns.
10. Skin Lightening Cream Ads
Golden Brown Chemical Company on Wikimedia Commons
Several ads promoted creams to lighten dark skin, calling it a way to look more beautiful. These ads fed into colorism and the idea that lighter skin is better. It was harmful and spread a damaging message to viewers, especially young girls. Today, most companies avoid this kind of marketing entirely.
11. “Boys Will Be Boys” Toy Ads
Fma12 on Wikimedia Commons
These ads showed boys being rough, wild, and tough, saying that’s just how boys are. It pushed the idea that boys shouldn’t show emotion or act gently. Girls were left out or shown as weak and quiet. That kind of message about gender roles is now seen as limiting and unfair.
12. “Women Belong in the Kitchen” Theme Ads
Frank Behnsen on Wikimedia Commons
Some kitchen appliance ads suggested that a woman’s place was at home, cooking for her family. They portrayed this as her only job or responsibility. These commercials didn’t show men helping or sharing tasks. Today, this message would face major criticism for reinforcing outdated gender roles.
13. Airline Stewardess Beauty Ads
State Library of Queensland, Australia on Wikimedia Commons
Some airlines ran commercials focused on the looks of their stewardesses. They promised travelers a “beautiful experience” with smiling, slim women. This kind of ad reduced professional workers to their appearance. Modern ads focus more on safety, service, and respect.
14. Sugary Cereal Ads with Cartoon Lies
Evan-Amos on Wikimedia Commons
Cartoons told kids that sugar-loaded cereals were “part of a balanced breakfast.” These ads often tricked parents into thinking they were healthy. They used playful characters to hide the fact that the cereals were mostly sugar. Today, regulations are stricter about advertising food to kids.
15. Energy Drink “Real Men” Ads
Dominicp on Wikimedia Commons
Some commercials claimed that only “real men” drank certain energy drinks. They mocked men who didn’t act tough or aggressive. This message promoted toxic masculinity and narrow definitions of manhood. Ads like that would now be called out for being harmful and backwards.
16. Soda Ads That Glorified Teen Rebellion
Splarka on Wikimedia Commons
Some 1980s soda brands marketed rebellion as cool, showing teens ignoring parents or breaking rules. They made soda a symbol of freedom and being wild. It encouraged risky behavior just to sell a drink. Today, this would be seen as irresponsible marketing.
17. Fast Food Weight Loss Claims
Kennysrl on Wikimedia Commons
There were even fast food ads that claimed eating their meals could be part of a weight loss plan. They used small print and flashy music to distract from unhealthy facts. These ads misled viewers by making junk food sound healthy. Regulations today would stop these kinds of claims.
18. Beer Ads Featuring Bikinis
agracier on Wikimedia Commons
Many beer ads showed women in bikinis at parties, used only to grab attention. They had no connection to the product, just to appeal to male viewers. These ads objectified women and reduced them to background props. Most companies avoid this kind of messaging today.