The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) said that six terrified parents claimed that their two- and three-year-olds had been "terrified" by the latest Marmite commercials.
We aren't sure if it's the children terrified of the advert or the parents terrified their children might eat Marmite. Four parents said their children refused to watch television after seeing it, probably because they wanted to eat Marmite instead, and two said their children had nightmares as well. Wouldn't you if you were banned from eating your favorite food?
I make light of all this because the advertisement in question is a spoof of the famous 1958 film "The Blob". Remember the "Indescribable... Indestructible! Nothing Can Stop It!" tag line? Okay, I had to look it up, I thought it was "Run! Don't walk!" In the 1988 incarnation, the tag line had been beefed up a bit and made more relevant to Marmite haters: "Terror has no shape."
Initially, the ASA gave clearance for the advert to be shown on British television, accepting that it was "very mild horror that was clearly over the top and comical" and that; "The blob was not shown attacking people, no one was hurt by it and its pursuit of the crowd was in a cartoon style that would be familiar to very young viewers."
After all, how many times have children seen Tom be whacked over the head with a frying pan by a very unassuming Jerry Mouse?
More seriously though, the parents said the adverts had caused "distress" among their children, who were aged two and three, after being broadcast around programmes aimed at youngsters.
The advertising watchdog said: "All the viewers said that their children had been terrified by the advertisements; four said their children refused to watch television after seeing it and a further two said their children had nightmares as a result."
Okay, so only show the commercial after the 9pm watershed?
Less seriously, the first time I saw the advert I had no idea it was for Marmite and nearly split my sides when the terrified shoppers turned and jumped head-first into the blob of Marmite when they realised what was chasing them.
I bet you want to see what all the fuss was about don't you?
The first commercial:
People are running away from a giant brown blob of Marmite as it emerges from a supermarket and then heads down the street. As a couple hides from the blob the woman suddenly runs out and jumps into the Marmite, followed by many others who realised the Mamitey goodness of the Blob.
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