Apple Removes Its Own Ads: What’s Happening?
▼ Summary
– Apple removed its ad “The Parent Presentation” one day after posting it, marking its fourth ad takedown in just over a year.
– The ad featured comedian Martin Herlihy advising students on convincing parents to buy a Mac, but was pulled from YouTube and Apple’s student webpage.
– Apple faced backlash last year for ads like “Crush!” and “Out of Office OOO,” which were criticized for insensitivity and stereotyping.
– The company also took down an iPhone 16 ad starring Bella Ramsey for showcasing unreleased Siri AI features.
– Unlike previous removals, no clear reason was given for pulling “The Parent Presentation,” though some social media users called it “cringe.”
Apple has quietly pulled another advertisement from its platforms, marking the fourth time in just over a year that the tech giant has removed its own marketing content. The latest ad, titled “The Parent Presentation,” featured comedian Martin Herlihy offering humorous advice to students on convincing their parents to buy a Mac. Though posted on Friday, it vanished from YouTube and Apple’s student-focused webpage by Saturday.
The eight-minute spot was accompanied by an 81-slide presentation template still available for download, listing reasons why a Mac is essential for college. While Apple hasn’t explained the removal, some social media users criticized the ad as awkward or questioned its intended audience.
This isn’t the first time Apple has backtracked on an ad campaign. Last May, the company apologized for “Crush!”, a controversial iPad Pro commercial showing a hydraulic press destroying creative tools like pianos and paint cans. The ad, meant to highlight the device’s versatility, instead drew backlash for appearing to glorify the destruction of art. Apple swiftly pulled it from TV and YouTube.
Later in the year, the company removed “Out of Office OOO,” a 10-minute ad set in Thailand, after facing criticism for portraying the country in a stereotypical light. Thai citizens and lawmakers called the depiction outdated, prompting Apple to take it down.
More recently, in March, an iPhone 16 ad featuring The Last of Us star Bella Ramsey was deleted. The spot showcased an unreleased AI-enhanced Siri, raising eyebrows since it promoted features not yet available to users.
While past removals followed clear public outcry, the reason behind “The Parent Presentation” disappearing remains unclear. Whether due to poor reception or internal reconsideration, Apple’s pattern of withdrawing ads suggests a cautious approach to marketing missteps. The company has yet to comment on the latest removal.
(Source: The Verge)
