scandal
09/11/2007
Clearasil May Cause Confidence Ad, "Ms. Kelly"
Gotta hand it to Clearasil -- you're definitely doing something right, marketing-wise, when your commercials for pimple cream are stirring up a hotbed of controversy.
Clearasil has abandoned their wholesome image in favor of a new campaign themed "May Cause Confidence." In the spots, teens are emboldened by their Clearasil-powered flawless skin, causing them to be zanily risque. In "Ms. Kelly," the commercial getting the most heat, a young Lothario hits on his friend's newly single mom. (Ms. Kelly, by the way, is appalled.)
In "Baby Photos," a girl responds to the naked baby photos her mom is showing her boyfriend by saying, "you should see me now." The mom has a conniption and the girl's boyfriend looks wildly uncomfortable.
And in "Picture Me Naked," a teen tells a nervous lecturer, "if it helps, you can..." well, you guessed it. Then he turns to the girl next to him and says, "You, too." Granted, the girl gives a small giggle, but still, I wouldn't say the commercial's a ringing endorsement for the behavior.
Unlike, say, Axe ads -- which seem to imply the product is essentially a sprayable combo of roofie and Spanish Fly -- the Clearasil spots don't show the teens necessarily getting what they want. Honestly, distilled down to the basics, what the commericals really seem to be saying is, "Confidence makes you act like a dumbass."
Therefore, as sexy scandals go, I'm going to have to rate this one a solid "meh."
