AussieMite continues its Catholic battle
Embattled brand AussieMite has continued overnight with its quixotic social media response to controversy over its Catholic-baiting ad.
The brand posted an image on Facebook telling consumers: “Our product has never left a bad taste in anyone’s mouth. We’re sorry our latest TV commercial has.”
The posting met with cynicism from some consumers with one saying: if you’re trying to offend most Catholics… you’re doing a damn good job with these fake apologies on top of that ad.”
Meanwhile, AussieMite was less apologetic on Twitter, in one instance criticising God for the brand’s woes with a message saying “Anything else dear God while your (sic) at it!” The brand also complained that it was being kicked whilst it was down.
Another image it has posted is of a priest listening to confession from a jar of the spread.
The brand kicked off its ad campaign last week with a press release from creative agency Grown Ups saying the ad was deliberately controversial. It shows Catholics dipping Communion wafers into the spread.
After the ad began to cause offence, AussieMite owner Roger Ramsey told Mumbrella that the relationship with Grown Ups would be terminated. Ramsey’s daughter Elise, who handles the brand’s marketing then claimed to Mumbrella that the press release had been issued and the campaign launched without authorisation. She has since had a change of heart and says that she backs the agency.
The brand posted another message telling people to “smile more”.
How hard is it to do an apology correctly? When you say “if “, it is a complete lack of acknowledgement or ownership.
Reword to: “We’re sorry our latest television commercial has caused offence.”
Like so many others in the community, I am deeply offended at the add for Aussie Mite that is deeply insulting to Catholics. I will do what I can to encourage people to avoid Aussie Mite products until the company learns to respect beliefs in a multicultural and multi-faith society. With others, I am contacting Coles and Woolworths asking them not to stock AussieMite products unltil the company engages in advertising that avoids giving offense to beliefs of people in the community.
Kevin Treston OAM
Are people really buying into this? It’s clear that they’re doing this all on purpose and want articles like this so the Twitterati can condemn them and push their marketing reach far further than a normal ad for a no-name product. Well done society, you’re all pawns for this company!
So, it’s just a rehash of a 20 year old idea – http://ispiderbook.wordpress.c.....n-of-them/
While Mr Bean may not have faced the opprobrium Aussiemite faces today, it’s probably because we didn’t have the instant media that is available today. And, we were probably a little more laid back and not facing terror threats each and everyday – although in fairness for someone who lived in London during “the troubles” every day was a terrorist threat – and that was just the cabbies!
I do think as well that Aussiemite and its agency hasn’t handled this in the best way.
Say sorry – no ifs, buts, 25%, kick us when we’re down comments. Just “Sorry, we made a mistake. We apologise unreservedly. Thank you.”
Eddy McGuire must be rubbing his hands he’s no longer on the front page!
@Kevin
You are completely within your rights to contact Coles etal, but if you believe this advert is currently the biggest threat and pressing issue for the Catholic church then may I suggest you revisit your priorities and spend your energies closer to home.
Believe it or not Bem, people are… the Facebook comments lead me to believe so, anyhow.
It’s so obvious to me, but I’m a marketing cynic. I’m afraid people don’t seem to understand this has been done purposefully.
Hang on, hang on. Fake apologies… Catholics… Didn’t we cover this ground already? Oh that’s right, that was something else…
hasn’t caused me any offence. But seems the easily offended are concened. If this offends them, then I am sorry.
time for a rename……AussieSmite
“Jesus Mary I love you, Save Souls”
And suddenly, a brand no one had ever heard of – everyones talking about.
Irony is, if instead of getting irate about it, people just ignored it – then the ad would probably have been a total failure.
job done.
Who cares about the god botherers……i’m offended that these clowns ripped off my ozemite brand. hope the religious nutters catch up with them.
Like we said yesterday – we’re playing their game – it’s lame, please let’s move on!
Imagine if they chose to make fun of Islam…
I mean no offence here, but reading all of this twaddle about AussieMite and the fact that it offended so many Catholics to the point that they have become so publicly vocal about it, prompts me to ask a question. How come these same Catholics do not appear to have become so offended and so publicly vocal about the conduct of paedophile priests down through the centuries, and the damage that they have done, not only to the Catholic Community, but to society in general? I fail to see where, in the circumstances, AusieMite has done anything worthy of such a rebuke.
Well said Vic.
I wondered why Aussiemite had disappeared from Coles’ shelf, now I know. But where can I buy it now, I’m running out fast. Do IGA or someone still have it? I asked you last year why Coles had it and then didn’t and it reappeared. Where to from here? it’s the best of all the products. Mrs J Halgren Latham ACT