AntiFriday: In Nike’s face; “Never Greens”; etc.

Time for another roundup of the week in backlashes, dissent, and critiques. Here goes.

1. An “in your face” print/outdoor campaign from Nike is accused of blatant homophobia by Towleroad.com — and by many, many comments on the W+K site where the work is posted. Other comments, of course, defend the ads, but some of the images (above, for instance) seem pretty calculated to me. [Thx: discoczech.]

I’m also sort of curious if any of the slang-ologists among you have a reaction to the one below. I associate the phrase “Punks jump up” with the early 1990s Brand Nubian track “Punks Jump Up To Get Beat Down,” which has a great sound — but also, if I remember right, included an anti-gay epithet in the original lyrics that was later excised.

But then again I’m not exactly long on street cred, so maybe the phrase “punks jump up” has other associations and the fact that it makes me think of that song is coincidence. I actually find that particular juxtaposition of image and phrase generally confusing. Any thoughts?

2. BrandWeek on “the Never Greens“:

a small but persistent new consumer demographic — people who either don’t care or are not interested in America’s new passion for sustainable, green products.

It’s a demo that’s been overlooked by marketers as they rush to tout their carbon offsets, recycled content and eco-friendly manufacturing.

About 10% of the population are Never Greens, according to a survey by Mintel International in Chicago, a research firm.

The Never Greens don’t buy green products, don’t remember green advertising when they see it and are irritated by it even if they do, according to Mintel.

More AntiFriday after the jump.

3. A significant majority of UK marketers think the logo for the 2012 Olympics is no good. That’s it at right. I, uh, see their point. Via UnBeige.

4. Commercial Alert to TV station that’s opted to pad advertising revenue by way of a product placement deal that puts McDonald’s coffee in front of news anchors: ” We are appalled.” (Bonus: Apparently while those are McD’s coffee cups, they don’t actually contain coffee. Thx jkd for that detail.)

5. Congressman Edward Markey “grilled” the head honcho of NebuAd (see previous AntiFriday) and called for an opt-in system on online-advertising data mining. Re the NubuAd opt-out alternative:

“That’s basically saying silence is consent and as a result you can do whatever you want with their information,” Markey said. “I don’t think, unless you’ve got clear affirmative permission, that you should be able to take this incredible leap into the breaching of the privacy of Americans.”

6. “IllegalBillboards.org is a new effort launched by the Anti-Advertising Agency with IllegalSigns.ca to help organize and support the removal of illegal billboards in New York.”

7. Meanwhile, just for the record, The American Family Association encourages you to boycott McDonald’s because the company “has chosen not to remain neutral but to give the full weight of their corporation to promoting the homosexual agenda, including homosexual marriage.”