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Don't squeeze the Charmin™

Please don't squeeze the ... Eeeeeeeeeew.

Rejected Web banner ad, 1999. Client: sacbee.com. Agency: sacbee.com. Art Director: Chris Bartlett. Writer: Chris Bartlett. Cause of death: see below. MORE »

"This was an ad for our Health section where the week's feature was 'Acne, it's not just for teens anymore.' The front page showed a photo of a woman with blemishes. Everyone in the office had the same reaction: Laughter, followed by 'Eeeewwwww.'

"After I created the ad the managers said: 'We've talked it over, and the acne banner is not suitable for the site. Please swap it out with something a little more tasteful.'

"Earlier in the year we ran an ad on our site for Blue Shield of California advertising a treatment for 'genital warts.' I figured the acne banner would be at least within the bounds of good taste."


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