UPDATE:
Here is the response I recevied from Hyundai, I'm not sure if it's exactly an apology, but it's something I guess:
Hello and thank you for your feedback regarding Hyundai advertising.
Hyundai Motor America would like to thank you and other consumers for sharing concerns about a new ad titled "Wedding" which aired during the opening games of the FIFA World Cup broadcast last week. We take comments of this nature very seriously. Because of feedback like yours, we have removed the ad from all Hyundai communications and stopped airing it.
We credit the passionate World Cup viewers and Hyundai owners for raising this issue to us. The unexpected response created by the ad, which combined both soccer and religious motifs to speak to the passion of international soccer fans, prompted us to take a more critical and informed look at the spot. Though unintentional, we now see it was insensitive. We appreciate your feedback and hope you will accept our
sincere apologies.
With appreciation,
Hyundai Motor America
5 comments:
I just emailed them!
I wrote to Hyundai complaining about the ad after Fr. Z posted it to his site yesterday, and got back the same email that many others received. Hyundai said the ad was meant to portray the passion of many soccer fans, but they have discontinued the ad after complaints.
I received the same response. I explained I have a sense of humour but the ad had crossed a line; that some things are sacred.
Sorry, but anti-catholicism is nowhere near being the last acceptable prejudice.
Not that the ad wasn't offensive.
Living almost in the shadow of this company's US office, I called them and was told it had not been their intention to offend and that they were sorry offense was taken. Nothing was said about pulling the ad.
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