6 Controversial Campaigns From 2024 - And Where They Went Wrong

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Advertising has to make an impact to be remembered. Some brands aren't above courting controversy to move the sales dial, but it doesn't always work. Here are 5 campaigns that were close to the line in 2024.

'Nothing Satisfies Like a Pot Noodle' suggests the Unilever brand's campaign title. In the UK, in 2024, we heard a Pot Noodle bringing a great deal of satisfaction, featuring (probably) one of the longest, most visceral slurps ever aired in the country.

The audio quirk designed to showcase the product's satisfying taste, wasn't to everyone's taste. While some found the ad humorous, many criticized it for being unpleasant and disruptive. The backlash led to the creation of a "slurpless" version, which failed to quiet the controversy entirely. The brand dialed the slurp down, likely in a fully tongue-in-cheek manner, for future TVCs.

Lesson: One word. Misophonia, a rare condition that causes people to have intense emotional reactions to certain sounds. The slurp was one of them. But the campaign looks to have worked, writes Unilever's Lena Portchmouth in The Drum. Sometimes to make some egg noodles, you've got to break some... eggs.

As part of its transition to an all-electric luxury brand, Jaguar released the 'Project Roar' campaign, showcasing abstract visuals, cryptic copy, and fashion-forward aesthetics.

Critics argued that the campaign distanced the brand from its automotive roots and alienated loyal customers. While it garnered attention, many questioned if it resonated with Jaguar's core audience.

While the ad was intended to highlight Gemini's capabilities, critics accused it of undermining genuine human creativity and over-glorifying AI. Public outcry was so intense that Google ultimately pulled the ad.