Insurance carrier Nationwide seemed to have a good commercial on the works. Cute kid: Check. Building storyline: Check. Big reveal: He’s dead – whaaaaaat!?
And then the internet exploded, here are some of the finer samples:
2 things we learned tonight. 1. Always run the ball when u have 1yd to go with #lynch. 2. Dont buy anything from #nationwide
— Austin’s Rose (@theaustinsrose) February 2, 2015
This. #nationwide #SuperBowI pic.twitter.com/Es33vNRG1v — Alexander Liang (@KENTONmagazine) February 2, 2015
Overheard in Nationwide advertising meeting: “Yeah, these are okay, but do you have anything where we can kill a kid?”
— Eric Stangel (@EricStangel) February 2, 2015
The shark on the left had just seen the Nationwide commercial pic.twitter.com/F1ZNArdmEl
— Lauren Comitor (@laurencomitor) February 2, 2015
Sunday after the game, Nationwide issued this statement:
Preventable injuries around the home are the leading cause of childhood deaths in America. Most people don’t know that. Nationwide ran an ad during the Super Bowl that started a fierce conversation. The sole purpose of this message was to start a conversation, not sell insurance. We want to build awareness of an issue that is near and dear to all of us-the safety and well being of our children. We knew the ad would spur a variety of reactions. In fact, thousands of people visited MakeSafeHappen.com, a new website to help educate parents and caregivers with information and resources in an effort to make their homes safer and avoid a potential injury or death. Nationwide has been working with experts for more than 60 years to make homes safer. While some did not care for the ad, we hope it served to begin a dialogue to make safe happen for children everywhere.
In case you missed it, here is what all the fuss is about:
