Video: Toyota apologizes for Prius ad after it appears on Digg
Recently, we wrote about a Prius ad that took a shot at Fresno, California. Other blogs wrote about the ad, which only aired on the East coast but did make it to Digg's front page. Residents of Fresno seem to think their town is not a low budget, tourist stop, ghost town as described in the ad. Complaints made it as high as Senator Dianne Feinstein. Dianne then complained in a letter to Shige Hayakawa, president of Toyota North America, that she felt "profound disappointment with the current Toyota Prius advertising campaign which gratuitously insults the city of Fresno."
Just two days later, the ad was pulled and Toyota sent a letter of apology to Fresno Mayor Alan Autry that said "please accept our deepest apology for this serious error in judgment and we hope you will accept our apology for this transgression." Toyota has also implemented a series of controls so this kind of thing won't happen again. Fresno Council Member Henry T. Perea says he's "willing to forgive Toyota if they located a Prius plant here in Fresno." According to ABC 30 News, Toyota is now considering Fresno as a location for one of its new plants which would mean thousands for jobs for Fresno. That would help Fresno out, because I hear the place is a low budget, tourist stop, ghost town :D
All joking aside, what can we take away from this examples of blogs, YouTube and of course, Digg having a considerable impact?
[Source: ABC 30 News]
Just two days later, the ad was pulled and Toyota sent a letter of apology to Fresno Mayor Alan Autry that said "please accept our deepest apology for this serious error in judgment and we hope you will accept our apology for this transgression." Toyota has also implemented a series of controls so this kind of thing won't happen again. Fresno Council Member Henry T. Perea says he's "willing to forgive Toyota if they located a Prius plant here in Fresno." According to ABC 30 News, Toyota is now considering Fresno as a location for one of its new plants which would mean thousands for jobs for Fresno. That would help Fresno out, because I hear the place is a low budget, tourist stop, ghost town :DAll joking aside, what can we take away from this examples of blogs, YouTube and of course, Digg having a considerable impact?
[Source: ABC 30 News]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
mario 12:26AM (2/28/2008)
dont like the ads
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why not the LS2/LS7? 12:24PM (11/11/2007)
They're using the same "single finger salute" that the Australians are current plugging as a way to make fun of someone's penis size when they are hooning* their car.
*hooning: exhibiting foolishness, often through dangerous behavior. In other words, "exhibition of speed" and such like that.
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Laynie 5:41AM (11/13/2007)
I actually really liked this ad, but the Fresno part confused me. It wasn't really funny or anything. I thought maybe there was some new slang going around.
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Anonymous 2:02AM (11/12/2007)
I've lived in Fresno for 16 years. Having traveled around the country, Fresno really is a dump. The only reason people come here is when traveling from L.A. or Sacramento. And as for low budget, Fresno has one of the largest per capita poverty rates in the nation.
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John 2:26AM (11/12/2007)
This is a joke right. It said that Fresno was a low-budget tourist stop...isn't that a good thing that a place is low-budget when your considering a place to go on vacation? It was comparing things that are easy and cheap to travel to, not meaning it sucks(all reality aside) and you get it pulled. An ad that cost Toyota millions in advertising dollars. Wow, awesome...way to go. I'm going to go complain to that same Senator that there are too many stupid people in the US. I'm surprised this wasn't taken to class action lawsuit status by these same idiots.
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Advice Network 3:12AM (11/12/2007)
Your final punch line: "That would help Fresno out, because I hear the place is a low budget, tourist stop, ghost town." Is the first thing to make me laugh out loud in hours!
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ChooseandWatch 3:43AM (11/12/2007)
I've been to Fresno it's disgusting. It's like the Flint Michigan of California.
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ian9outof10 5:27AM (11/12/2007)
What's more amusing is the fact that Toyota still claims this car is green, when in fact it has some pretty horrible chemicals knocking around inside it.
Good effort, but green motoring needs to be more than just hype.
It is ridiculous to get annoyed by this advert though, I'm sure Fresno is a lovely place.
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SOhp101 6:22AM (11/12/2007)
That doesn't mean they're actually going to build one there. California loves taxing its companies of all types.
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andrea 6:41AM (11/12/2007)
Dude, I've been to Fresno. I avoid it as much as possible. Like the plague. Seriously, it's gross.
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J Spooner 10:33AM (11/12/2007)
Seriously the mention of Fresno was not neccesary at all for the premise of the ad. It's a good ad otherwise (just in terms of eliciting brand allegiance from their targetted demo). The same ad will make it back on TV after they just drop in another audio track without the offending "Fresno" line.
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Wes V 12:26PM (11/12/2007)
You shouldn't say things like that about Fresno. It's a great place. The only time I was ever there, I bought 4 new tires for my car, and they're great.
They were also cheap as hell ...
Oh wait, I see what you mean.
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Paul 1:06PM (11/12/2007)
I think the ad was actually being kind by referring to Fresno as a low budget tourist stop. If, by "stop" you mean needing to stock up on ammunition before entering the city limits, then I think it is quite accurate.
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mike.atgl 3:41PM (11/12/2007)
In defense of Fresno, despite all the problems it faces, it's one of the most culturally diverse cities in the country. For example, I attended the Hmong International New Year celebration last year, which was incredible.
It's impossible to get a feel for these sorts of things when you're just pulling off the 99 between LA and San Francisco. And probably even harder when you're a soulless copy writer. ;)
Props to Fresno for sticking up for itself.
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shawn mac 5:12PM (11/12/2007)
Following this logic, New Jersey should have gotten millions of dollars in Hollywood contracts by now!
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Xenia 10:57PM (11/12/2007)
All I gotta say, is that Fresno is the best you'll get in the central valley of california, no doubt! Where else in the central area are you going to find various schools, shopping centers, concerts, and everything else you'd otherwise find in a bigger city like L.A. for example?
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michaelrshea 6:07AM (11/13/2007)
Think Fresno is bad, check out Modesto ...
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n8tureb0y 4:30PM (11/14/2007)
The premise is all wrong. Having spent my first 20 yrs near Fresno I have to ask what tourist, low budget or otherwise, would in their right mind "stop" there. Corruption, crime, poverty, rednecks, oppressive heat - if it sucks, Fresno has it. And yes the Alan Autry mentioned in the article IS the actor who played Bubba Skinner on TV's Heat of the Night. Laugh with us Fresnans...you are the brunt of jokes for a well deserved reason.
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Dan 2:48AM (11/15/2007)
well.. they must not have been talking about Fresno,ca... or the ad would be bosting about the security system on the car. Seriosly though if you travel there lock your doors when you leave your car. Oh and downtown is not a happening place, it's a place where bad things happen.
On the other hand they could have been refering to Fresno,oh. The guy at the gas station represents Fresno,oh prety well. Population right around 4,200 and cost of living is around 18% lower then us average. Ever been there?...no... not many people have... I wonder if they have computers there yet.
Back to fresno,ca. When Alan Audry "Bubba" was first elected the local news interviewed a local woman who voted for him. She said she voted for him because of his law enforcement background, being on " In The Heat Of The Night" is not considered being in "law enforcement".
No wonder Fresno is the butt of so many jokes. Glad I moved.
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bogdan 10:55AM (11/15/2007)
You say Fresno is a dump? Have you heard of Romania? there are many dump cities there. Fresno has 450.000 inhabitants....except bucharest, the capital, no other town in Romania has such a population.
So think again when you say Fresno is a dump, or a ghost town. I dont like american towns but i must be objectiv. They are much over then the romanians one
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