General Motors Agrees To Revise Robot Ad To Appease Anti-Suicide Groups

[Intrepidation]

NEW YORK — General Motors late Friday gave in to mounting pressure from suicide prevention and mental health groups and agreed to revise its "suicidal robot" advertisement that triggered criticism after it aired during last Sunday's Super Bowl broadcast. The automaker has not yet confirmed how it will change the ad, but the ending, where the despondent robot jumps off of a bridge is expected to be revised.

In the spot, a quality-obsessed robot makes a mistake and is thrown out of a GM plant. After a series of demeaning jobs, the robot commits suicide, only to wake up and realize it was just a dream.

In a letter on its Web site, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says the ad "is offensive to the tens of millions of survivors of suicide loss nationwide. The ad, in its carelessness, portrays suicide as a viable option when someone fails or loses their job. This is the wrong message to send to adolescents in general, or to young people and adults alike who may be depressed."

The ad is scheduled to run during the upcoming Academy Awards program and is currently playing on the company's Web site. According to the current issue of Business Week, GM hopes the $5.2 million ad will make the robot the star of an ongoing ad campaign.

What this means to you: Doesn't anyone have a sense of humor anymore?

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=119551

[frogger]

Instead of having it commit suicide maybe it will go back to the plant and kill a few "co-workers" and its "boss".

[FAPTurbo]

Instead of having it commit suicide maybe it will go back to the plant and kill a few "co-workers" and its "boss".

That'd likely offend the US Postal Service.

[Screaming Trees]

That'd likely offend the US Postal Service.

The sad part is...you are right

[gm4life]

Oh man... This is something to late it was already played over nation TV time and time again! (DURING THE SUPER BOWL!)

[ellives]

They should check in with Mr. Spock about getting a sense of humor. Even his was better.

Edited February 12, 2007 by ellives

[aaaantoine]

I felt that the overall ad was great but that the suicide portion was over the top.

And I don't know anyone who committed suicide, so it's not personal.

[KillFort]

Sigh... political correctness has ruined America.

[RJB]

Sigh... political correctness has ruined America.

I couldn't agree more. We are raising a bunch of candyasses anymore, America is on its way to becoming way too soft. Kids can't go to school because its too cold?! I stood at the bustop freezing my ass off when I was a kid. My mom said we would almost have to be flatlining not to go to school. Now we have to tweak an ad because somebody was offended!! I was not offended, where you?

[LLT]

Lunacy!! Where is the line?

[Dragon]

hehe, they pulled the plug

[Intrepidation]

You know if they took the ad of the air that's killing the robot in a sense...so from suicide to murder! I find that offensive!

[76ChevyTrucker]

I'm tired of hearing this one. Is there a political advocacy group for everyone's damn sensibilities? I'll be quite frank, I'm not PC... I'm really not, nor do I care about someone's precious sensibilities. I'd say run the damned commercial and suicide people be damned.