Michael C Hall filming with his on-screen son
Dodge had a kind of throwaway sale ad (below) featuring the voice of Dexter’s anti-hero, Michael C. Hall. The end of the ad included a scene where a chimpanzee dressed in racing gear set off some confetti through one of those push-down bomb type detonators. It was a pretty normal ad that featured a chimpanzee, but of course PETA was up in arms over it and issued an open letter to Dodge asking them to pull the ad due to “the well-documented abuse that young chimpanzees and orangutans suffer in the entertainment industry.”
Instead of being cowed by PETA, Dodge re-issued the ad with an “invisible” monkey that featured the same footage with the chimp digitally removed. (below) It was pretty much a genius move, and ensured that Dodge will get a lot more coverage than it otherwise would have. Here’s more:
Annoying end-of-model-year dealer closeout ads have swarmed the airwaves, as they do every year around this time.
But Chrysler threw a touch of whimsy into its 30-second array of black cars in front of a tent with confetti, with the voice of Michael C. Hall–better known as the civic-minded serial killer title character of Dexter–intoning flatly, “This event could not be more amazing.”
[pause]“Oh, wait. There’s a monkey. I stand corrected.” Indeed, there was a monkey in an Evel Knievel suit, pressing a detonator to explode … well, a very small shower of confetti.
Then People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals got into the act.
The group issued a statement saying, “Most top ad agencies in the country won’t even consider producing an ad featuring a great ape these days given the well-documented abuse that young chimpanzees and orangutans suffer in the entertainment industry.”
The statement went on in quite some detail, specifying the abuses. It ended by saying, “Dodge isn’t going to dodge a bullet on this one. It needs to pull the ad–and we’ve contacted the company asking it to do just that.”
But rather than pulling the ad, Chrysler has simply digitally erased the monkey. Hall now says, in the same monotone, “Oh, wait. There’s an invisible monkey. Unbelievable.”
Consumerist says, “The first one was just meh, monkey joke. The revision is an act of surreal genius, and a giant finger to PETA pantywringers.”
[From The Car Connection via Buzz.Yahoo.com]
I love it, and I love how Dodge didn’t scrap the whole ad or even the monkey really. I’m sympathetic to the plight of performing animals, but PETA just rubs so many people the wrong way with their over the top tactics. Sometimes it seems like they’re more interested in getting publicity than making whatever point it is they have. They’ve even advocated on behalf of cockroaches and got all up in arms over the fact that Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog used to predict the duration of winter ever year in Punxsutawney, PA, gets stressed out by the crowds during his one gig a year. PETA recommended that Phil be replaced with a robotic groundhog. I’m not kidding.
Original Dodge ad with the monkey, voiceover by Michael C Hall
Ad with the “invisible” monkey after PETA complaint
YAY! Steak for dinner tonight. My little protest against the idiots at PETA…anytime I hear about them in the news, I make sure to have some delicious red meat that day!!!!
@Sammy – That’s a fantastic idea. From now on, every time I hear a PETA story, I’m having steak for dinner. <3
I will join you Sammy!
So sick of PETA!
Ha! That’s brilliant! PETA are the biggest bunch of hypocritical idiots I’ve ever come across, so this was a nice little “f-ck you!” by Dodge.
Peta really is the worst. I think I shall join in eating some steak tonight.
Genius. My next vehicle will be a dodge.
Dodge-what a brilliant PR response. I will also have steak.
Im sorry, but when PETA talks all I heard is the teacher from Charlie Brown. This was a great idea.
Steak for dinner here too and next vehicle purchase shall be a dodge lol
I loved this ad and seriously thought about contacting Dodge to tell them when it first came out. Very funny!! I am so proud of how they handled this – my next car will be a Dodge. Oh, and Count me in on the steak. We can make a toast to Peta with it.
dear dodge:
i will never buy one of your vehicles but thank you for this…
🙂
If I could afford a Dodge I’m sure I’d buy one right now, and monkey chauffeur to drive it around.
Fixed: “Most top ad agencies in the country won’t even consider producing an ad featuring a great ape these days given the fact that PETA will probably jump up their asses for it, citing ‘well-documented abuse that young chimpanzees and orangutans suffer in the entertainment industry’, as if it was a given that using animals in ads or film was automatically an act of cruelty, and irrespective of whether THIS particular animal in THIS particular ad was mistreated, or whether anyone had even suggested it, which – to the best of our knowledge – they haven’t”.
Seriously, how long before someone treads on an ant and PETA issues an ad condemning them?
PETA has good intentions but they really are fuckin’ stupid. Would it kill them to CHECK if the animal in question was treated well?!?!?!
@Lenore: Agree. XD
I won’t be buying Dodge, or eating steak, but I will applaud Dodge for its response. Bravo! 😆
For me it was when PETA condemned drinking milk, because it’s “liquid meat.” That’s when I decided to do the steak thing whenever I hear about them.
I shall raise my wine glass to all of you tonight over dinner!
You people are all going to buy a Dodge now because of an ad with a monkey? And eat a steak because you don’t like PETA? Wow, some people are easy.
I for one am thankful there are groups out there like PETA taking a ethically consistent stand, even if some people think its extreme.
Just calling attention to the fact that these animals should not be abused is extremely important given the utter lack of value the human race places on other species.
There are far too many disgusting humans in this world who think animals are nothing more than throw away products for use and abuse and enjoyment of human beings.
I’ve always thought that monkeys were probably treated the best out o f any animals in the entertainment industry. They always seem to be treated like a baby/best friend by their trainers.
Anyway, I really love Michael C Hall. I need to catch up with my Dexter bc I didn’t know he had a on screen son. Oops.
I love the invisible monkey ad!!! Hilarious.
Get a grip, Juice. I feel confident saying that nobody on this board endorses abusing animals. But there is a big difference between wanting to protect animals from abuse and being a complete whack job, which what the people involved with PETA are.
I mean, how can we take a group seriously when they say you shouldn’t drink milk (liquid meat)? Or, in my area, we have a lovely monastery that has produced eggs on its’ chicken farm for decades. Well, the monks can’t do that anymore…according to PETA protestors, these evil men were “abusing” the chickens (they were doing nothing of the sort, and their facility has always been open to the public. Were abuse actually occuring there, they would have been called on it many years ago).
PETA destroys its’ own credibility by being a fringe group, rather than a rational group.
And yes, I will enjoy the heck out of my steak tonight!
@juice in la…cosign.
Didn’t even hear about PETA’s protest of the ad, they must need a new PR person as I’m on the net everyday and watch way too much tv. I was just wondering about the invisible chimp. I find the tone of the commentary the funny thing, not really the chimp or the invisible chimp.
Michael C Hall looks so cute and comfortable with the little one in his arms and the way he’s looking at his wife in the first of their pics… adorable… though he looks like he’s thinking naughty thoughts.
PETA president kills so many animals herself every year, and doesn’t think we should own pets!
Does she not know the comraderie and mutual benefit and deep bond between animals and humans? Same goes for animals and trainers.
Hence screw PETA, and I’ll keep eating my hamburgers and steaks while she callously takes the life of the only beings who cause so little pain: plants.
PETA lady is an animal “euthanizer” and worse, a plant killer. I have no respect for the latter villains 🙂
Love Dodge’s response to Peta.
I will join you in eating steak tonight.
Now I have a good reason to splurge on steak.
Hear Peta. Eat Steak.
I stand by my statement Mr. Haggar and am curious as how you think you escape the label of hypocrite when your main criticism of PETA seems to be they voice an opinion about Milk. Perhaps you feel that only those who can drive 55 are allowed to express opinions and champion their “pet” causes?
PETA’s president doesn’t “Kill” animals.
I’m all about PETA… People for the eating of tasty animals that is… The other PETA is a bunch of bullies who use terrorist type tactics to try and get people to stop eating meat!
@Decemberist, good one! Where can I sign up?
I’m having pork ribs for dinner tonight. I mean, I was already planning to, but now they’ll be extra tasty!
It’s not funny, or cute, to use great apes or chimps in entertainment. They don’t like it, and I don’t think you would like it very much either if you were a performing monkey.
They seem happy in ads, and maybe when performing in the circus (seems like you’re circus-going folk), but the conditions they are kept in and how they are treated are really horrible. Documented abuse, over and over again.
I’m totally against using monkeys, elephants, tigers, etc in any form of entertainment. They all belong in a) the wild, or b) in a sanctuary or preserve.
Learn a little bit about what PETA does. They are advocates for those who cannot speak for themselves. If you knew anything, you’d know that.
They don’t like it, and I don’t think you would like it very much either if you were a performing monkey.
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With my job, sometimes I think I am.
@lbees …PETA doesn’t bully? What do you call throwing flour or paint on someone who chooses to wear fur? It’s fine to have an opinion and be outspoken, but other people have just as much of a right to not have the same opinion as a PETA member. It’s obnoxious and self righteous to think that your opinion is the only one that counts. In fact I think that kind of thinking is how WWII got started.. Not comparing them, but something to think about.
And ps- even my vegan friends think that PETA gives them a bad name
And another thing… Maybe if PETA stopped taking up stupid causes like renaming fish sea kittens they would be taken a little more seriously
Sea kittens? Are you kidding me? They actually said that?
I don’t know why I’m surprised.
Thank you so much for pointing out that PETA seems more concerned with publicity then actually standing up for animal rights. I think they bring negative attention to animal rights………..I wish PETA would just go away…..