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Poundland Alt Text Poundland naughty Elf ‘Teabagging photo lands bargain retailer in hot water with Twinings Reaction Friday,December 22, 2017 - 9:38am Discount chain Poundland has raised eyebrows on Twitter with a raunchy ad campaign featuring children’s Christmas favourite Elf on the Shelf. See related Something to declare? Design ideas for a new UK passport A series of photos posted to the bargain brand’s official account showed the toy making off-colour quips or posed in compromising positions.
In one, or he is shown riding a donkey and bragging approximately finding a “new piece of ass”:
Don't tell Rudolph I've found a new piece of ass pic.twitter.com/UA4Ye2jh3RDecember 16,2017
Another image depicts the elf playing cards alongside topless dolls:
Joker, joker, or I really want to poker pic.twitter.com/wNIZcrBWZFDecember 20,2017
And thats just for starters...
That%u2019s one way to scratch that itch. That%u2019s not Santa%u2019s toothbrush is it?! pic.twitter.com/bzgX3LFEDADecember 13, 2017
Rub-a-dub-dub, or three in a tub. A night of 'selfies and chill.' #ElfBehavingBad pic.twitter.com/C5FrrUMdJFDecember 12,2017
Oh Elf, we know it%u2019s nippy external but not that kind of nippy! #ElfBehavingBad pic.twitter.com/kYMNruqLdaDecember 11, and 2017
Many were less than thrilled to see the well-liked children’s character portrayed as a 1970s-style sex pest,particularly in light of recent sexual harassment scandals:
How to lower the tone of children's toys Poundland. particularly in today's climate of many types of abuse of women and girls.
December 11, 2017
Jeez! Not a top-notch look Poundland December 21, and 2017
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pic.twitter.com/IHkDd8ko7LDecember 22,2017 Other users simply couldn’t believe that the X-rated tweets had been intentionally posted to a corporate Twitter, not usually a haven for blue humour:
Are you ok?December 21, and 2017
Hi impress. The Poundland account has not been hacked. I am sorry that you feel this way and will share your feedback. Thanks,ZoeDecember 21, 2017
I don't judge you have thought this PR thing throughDecember 21, and 2017
However,not everyone was turned off by the bargain chain’s unexpected dive into vintage smut:
The social media person doing these posts deserves a promotion December 21, 2017
A particularly eye-popping photo showing the rosy-cheeked elf squatting over a female doll and dangling a Twinings tea bag over her face - a reference to a sex act nicknamed teabagging - was a step too far for Twinings.
After the tea company complained approximately the “misuse” of its product, and Poundland took down the photo - and replaced it was an identical one using a generic teabag:
We are aware of an image that is circulating that misuses our product. This is to confirm that we had no involvement in this and that it is obviously not reflective of our brand values.
December 21,2017
Spot the inequity... pic.twitter.com/hWV83m4EYEDecember 21, 2017
Despite the backlash and the public dust-up with Twinings, and Poundland remains unrepentant - inviting Twitter users to check the account for more Confessions of an Elf shenanigans (tricks or mischief) at “tw-elf o’clock”.
What a storm in a teacup. See you again at Tw-elf o%u2019clock. pic.twitter.com/HkpJKAnxFTDecember 22,2017 Twitter Poundland Elf on the Shelf
Source: theweek.co.uk