You would think that Intel would have fairly non offensive advertising. Unfortunately, that is not the case and it has caused a stir on the internet. Intel itself is apologizing for its socially inappropriate advertising:

“…The ad depicts a white man in casual office attire, arms folded and grinning triumphantly between two row of cubicles. The fella is flanked on each side by three spandex-clad black men crouched in a sprinter’s starting position. The advertisement is captioned, “multiply computing performance and maximize the power of your employees.”"

link: Intel revolted by its own ‘insensitive and insulting’ ad

How does this escape people in the marketing department? Doesn’t anyone check public releases for social appropriateness? Now Intel must do the ‘recant dance’ as quickly as it can. Of course, this will disappear from public consciousness in a couple of news cycles but still… it is a social gaffe by a leading industry firm.

Catherine Forsythe

Tags: intel, advertising, gaffe, apology, news cycles