05.13.09 NATASHA RICHARDSON STARS IN SKI HELMET AD
An email newsletter from self-explanatory retailer SkiWear4Less has been banned by the U.K.’s Advertising Standard’s Authority for using news of Natasha Richardson’s death to sell ski helmets. I don’t know how you ban an email that’s already been sent, but British people are clever.
The mass-mailer featured a photograph of the star and offered details of her passing alongside a strong sales pitch.
“The actress fell and hit her head during a supervised ski lesson on a nursery slope. She was not wearing a helmet at the time,” the notice said. “As a ski retailer and ski enthusiasts, our thoughts go out to the family during this tragic time,” it said. “We hope this doesn’t discourage future skiers from participating in this exciting and invigorating sport. To encourage the wearing of ski helmets, we have reduced the prices of both kids and adults ski helmets and are offering FREE POSTAGE on all ski helmets.”
The company claims the notice was a newsletter—not promotional material—and was sent in response to Liam Neeson’s wife’s passing. The ASA determined that the intent was to sell helmets and said sensitive events should be handled with more care. They concluded that the email should not be used again. [EOnline]
In fairness to SkiWear4Less, their final version was a lot more sensitive than the original text of the ad, “You’d have to be brain dead not to snap up this deal!” As a general rule, it’s best to avoid exclamation points when discussing death. “We’re sorry for your loss!”
![[image]](http://cdn.fd.uproxx.com/wp-content/thumbnails/130/110/2009/03/natrichardson-liamneeson-150x150.jpg)
There are 48 comments about:
NATASHA RICHARDSON STARS IN SKI HELMET AD
We’ve pulled the plug on our competitors high sales!
“Now Reduced” was the message flashing on Richardson’s Brain Scanner.
I can’t wait for the Nerine Shatner pool floaty ad!
*Upgrades from his custom-made Sonny Bono ski helmet to the newer model*
[Starts work on John Graziano driving school ad]
I don’t think my ad was in poor taste at all. These here Freddy Mercury Condoms aren’t gonna sell themselves!
Anybody interested in some Belgian-made stab-proof baby blankets?
Micheal Kennedy was robbed!!!
We’ve flatlined our entire stock and are passing on the savings to you!
Prices so low, you’d think we were bleeding internally. In the head. (See enclosed autopsy report)
You’ll know “They’re Here” with trusty Heather O’ Rourke Doorbells!
This is very odd – the British Ad Council had nothing to say about their line of Sonny Bono tree bumpers.
Free disposal of Jett Travolta helmet with every purchase!
Our prices are lower than Patrick Swayze’s T-Cell count!
My new ad for those bullet proof backpacks for kids http://www.mychildspack.com/backpacks.html will feature some head shots of Eric Harris and Dylan Kleibold saying, “Bullshit! Not fair!”
Do I type too slow? Fuck.
*patents Lynyrd Skynyrd parachute*
For some reason, nobody’s signing up for my signature Sharon Tate lamaze class.
So…what happens if those kids wearing them backpacks get shot in the head or chest? Is that where praying to Jesus kicks in?
“Just two pence shipping on all headgear. Those pennies you’ve been saving for your eyes? You won’t be needing them any more!”
I will soon be introducing Brandon Lee “I Can’t Believe They’re Not Bullets.”
My Manny Ramirez line of steroid masking agents will big a big league hit!
Fek, yes.
Gary Busey isn’t happy with the way they choose to advertise their motorcycle helmets either.
“The Amy Winehouse Rehab center invites all not to end up like she did.”
“Psst. She’s not dead.”
“Who said anything about dead?”
Drowning in credit card debt? Natalie Wood says try the Brown & Caren Credit Counseling Service today!
This is almost as bad as Cornet’s line of 9-11 inspired disposable cutlery.
Kurt Cobaine’s endorsement of Remington shotguns was a blast from the past!
O.J. Simpson Leather Gloves are a real fit!
Natalee Holloway endorsing the Aruba tourism industry was a real boon.
Buy one, get one at my Jim Jones Kool Aid stand!
From Fek’lhr’s “101 Uses For Your Shamwow”:
Dampen your Shamwow and leave it in the freezer for 15 minutes. BOOM! Instant coldpack for those little aches and pains of falling down the stairs!
Tired of having nothing to eat while you’re doing your business on the shitter? Try our new line of chocolate-laden treats and buttery confections, and really get things moving at both ends. M&M/Mars presents new John Candy: Take Two While You Take a Two™
John Wayne Gacy Clown School will teach you how to put a smile on your patron’s faces!*
*Affiliated with Black Dahlia Acting School
This reminds me of the old JFK ad for Carcano rifles, “Get a head, buy a Carcano!”
*Youtube searches “Michael J. Fox Earthquake Safety PSA”*
This is almost as tasteless as Volvo’s ad from 1997 that featured a shot of Princess Di’s demolished Mercedes. Their text caption simply read “That’ll teach ya.”
Aaliyah Air is crashing down on the competition!
The Teri Shivo Square-Foot-Gardening: Vegetable Edition ad got very little response.
Order in the next 10 minutes and receive a complimentary Terry Schiavo Veggie Slicer.
Woody Allen heard the mountain had a “nursery slope” and showed up with a bag of candy and a hard on.
GDit Crap!
The Twilight Zone Movie Helicopter Ride never took off.
I now have a hobby to past the time now that I’ve got my Jimmy Hoffa Metal Detector.
And look at the weight I’ve lost. It’s like I have lost an entire person!
I’ll always cherish my Weird Al brand carbon monoxide detector. When the CO levels get too high it blasts “Smells Like Nirvana.”
Heather O’Rouke and Musinex may have been a bad pairing. But changing to Jim Henson was a hard pill to swallow.
Stop calling me weird. New up.
Katey Sagal’s line of baby dolls were an immediate failure when it was discovered their animatronic chips were shot and left them dead-on-arrival.
Steve Irwin for Johnson and Johnson Baby Shampoo, “It doesn’t sting! No more tears!”
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