P&G receives backlash for telling porkies in April fools stunt
While some were gaining points for pulling the wool over the public's eyes on Monday, the folks at P&G received backlash from consumers after it was revealed that a campaign including Twitter announcements, a Facebook page and an entertaining YouTube video for a new 'Scope Bacon mouthwash' was not real.
On the announcment that the company was just kidding, hundreds of consumers took to the Facebook page yesterday posting comments to express their displeasure about how they felt tricked into thinking this was a genuine product.
Some had issues with the fact that P&G started the campaign prank before the 1st of April, others felt the campaign fell under 'false advertising' and disliked the social media page or declared that they were no longer using the brand's mouthwash products whilst others admitted they had already been searching store aisles for it.
#tomfoolery
It all started on the 28th of March with a multimedia campaign that announced P&G was latching onto an 'ongoing bacon craze' and that Scope Bacon was the newest addition to its line of products accompanied by the description; "It tastes like bacon, while still killing 99.9 percent of bad breath germs. And, it keeps your breath minty fresh 5 times longer than brushing alone."
Meanwhile a press release further outlined that the 'mouthwash' was a synthetic bacon flavoring infused in the unflavored mouthwash formula at a specific time in the manufacturing process and is recommended to be used after breakfast and that; "No pigs are harmed during the making of Scope Bacon."
Despite the tongue in cheek description, P&G reps did however subtely say subtly to consumers; "One important note If you're a bacon lover and are interested in purchasing a bottle...well, maybe you should look on your calendar and check what day today is."
